Vitamin C falls into a category of nutrients known as “essential vitamins”. The human body cannot make it on its own, so we need to take it regularly from external sources. Eating vitamin C-rich foods is, of course, the number one option. The next is to take vitamin C supplements. But not just any supplement will do! Our Intelligent Labs Liposomal Vitamin C is a far better choice than regular, unencapsulated pills.
So, when is the best time to take our Liposomal Vitamin C supplement? If you’d like to skip directly to the answer, please use the Table of Contents below.
Table of Contents
But first, what exactly is Liposomal Vitamin C?
Liposomal Vitamin C is the improved version of this naturally fragile nutrient. To understand what makes this form so special, let’s go through some of the key issues with unencapsulated, a.k.a. non-liposomal, formulations.
The problem with non-liposomal vitamin C
To begin with, regular vitamin C is unstable. It is water soluble, so exposure to heat, air, and light can degrade it. Thus, proper vitamin C storage is critical to ensure it’s still usable by the time you take it.
But that’s not the end of regular vitamin C’s issues – its bioavailability is not that great, too. It’s absorbed well enough in small amounts (30-180mg/day), but poorly absorbed in large doses. If we consider most supplements come in 250mg, 500mg, or 1000mg, then we know a significant amount ends up in the toilet (source).
So, how do liposomes solve these issues?
Well, liposomes are hollow vesicles with a phospholipid bilayer. The vitamin C molecules are then inserted into the liposome, effectively filling up that hollow pocket. When vitamin C is safely hidden inside the liposome, it’s protected from the elements that usually degrade it, e.g. heat, air, and light.
Now, here’s why liposomal technology is so revolutionary. The body recognizes the liposome’s phospholipid bilayer as being similar to the ones found in all our cells. This is why Liposomal Vitamin C formulations have excellent bioavailability compared to regular vitamin C!
If you’d like to know more, check out our Ultimate Guide To Liposomal Vitamin C Supplements.
When is the best time to take Liposomal Vitamin C?
Liposomal Vitamin C should be taken with meals that contain a little bit of fat. For instance, you could take it with breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The fat in the food will help promote absorption.
Additionally, you should also split up the dose. For example, for our Intelligent Labs Liposomal Vitamin C, we recommend taking two veggie capsules daily for a total dosage of 1000mg per day. Instead of taking 2 capsules simultaneously, you can take one at breakfast and another at dinner.
Breaking up the dosage helps ensure the circulating vitamin C in your blood remains at consistently good levels. This is important so your body can continuously enjoy vitamin C’s health benefits. For instance, its antioxidant and immunity-boosting properties, vital role in collagen production, energy production, and more.
Moreover, scheduling your intake to line up with your meals makes it less likely you’ll forget to take it. No need to set alarms and timers. It’s a good habit to build to ensure you benefit from this essential vitamin!
That said, the upper tolerable intake for vitamin C is 2,000mg daily. This is equivalent to 4 capsules of our Liposomal Vitamin C. If your doctor has advised you to take this amount, we would recommend splitting it up 4 ways. For example, take 1 capsule at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack time.
If you need to take more than 2,000mg, please only do so at the advice of a medical professional. While vitamin C is relatively safe, large doses can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, heartburn, vomiting, and nausea.
Related article: When is the best time to take vitamins?
Why does it matter when you take Liposomal Vitamin C?
Yes, timing does matter. You see, vitamin C is naturally acidic. The liposomes offer a level of protection against acidity, decreasing the risk of gastric discomfort and acid reflux. Taking it with food also helps reduce the risk of stomach upset.
How often should you take it?
Water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C cannot be stored in the body. The excess amount is cleared by the kidneys and excreted in urine. Therefore, daily intake is necessary. If you’re not eating vitamin C-rich foods daily or supplementing with our high-quality Liposomal Vitamin C, you may be at risk of vitamin C deficiency.
What happens if you skip a dose?
Just take the missed capsule at your next meal. There’s no harm if you forget to take it occasionally, especially if you’re eating lots of vitamin C-rich foods anyway.
We also don’t recommend doubling down on the dosage. For instance, taking 2 capsules instead of 1 to make up for the missed dose. This may not help at all with absorption and only lead to waste.
Conclusion
Knowing when to take Liposomal Vitamin C can help you take advantage of everything this nutrient offers. Taking it with food is necessary to aid absorption. Lastly, to protect your stomach from this nutrient’s natural acidity, remember never to take any vitamin C supplements – even in liposomal form – on an empty stomach.
