Vitamin C

Rosehips contain lots of vitamin C. They are often used to make preserves and syrups.

Not too long ago I did a post on Vitamin C and it's effects. Nothing much was mentioned about negative effects, as long as you didn't overdo it (which we already know. Everything with "too" in front of it is not good!) Gosh, was I surprised when I came across this:

"Q: I read about a Duke University study that found very high levels of vitamin C accelerated joint damage and pain in people with OA. I also read about another study that showed people who ate the largest amounts of high-vitamin C foods had less disease progression and joint pain. Does vitamin C help OA or make it worse?

A: You are not the only one to feel confused. Information on vitamin C and OA, as you have found, is inconsistent. Although there are few certainties about the OA,vitamin C connection, some evidence does exist; it is just not yet conclusive.

OA is caused by cartilage damage in the joint. Antioxidant vitamins, including vitamin C, are thought to protect joint tissue, such as cartilage, from breaking down. Vitamin C is also needed to make type II collagen, an important component of cartilage. Scientists have speculated that inadequate amounts of vitamin C in tissues could decrease the ability of cartilage to handle wear and tear, as well as decrease the ability of the cartilage cells to repair collagen.

There have been limited studies to test these theories, and the results of those that have been done are quite contradictory. For example, one study reported that high dietary levels of vitamin C led to less severe OA ,less cartilage-loss and less-damaged cartilage, then low vitamin C diets. In contrast, another study, in which the researchers were expecting to verify the protective effect of vitamin C, showed that vitamin C supplementation worsened the severity of OA.

As a result, I can only recommend consuming the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin C, currently 75 to 90 milligrams (mg) per day, by eating citrus and other fruits. Going beyond the RDA is OK as long as you don't exceed the tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 2,000 mg. Currently there is no consistent evidence that high levels of vitamin C keep arthritis from developing, but there are known toxic effects of too much vitamin C. Consuming more than 2,000 mg can increase the amount of iron you absorb, which could be unsafe for people with hemochromatosis. And large doses (4,000 mg or more) can cause uric acid crystals, which can aggravate gout.
~Arthritis Foundation:: MARY FRAN SOWERS, PhD, RDRegistered Dietitian and Epidemiologist"

I am not in agreement with the expression: everything with "too" in front of it, is not good.
I guess there are always exceptions to the rule, huh? You can not overdo or get too much of God:-)

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.