The one supplement we feel we MUST always have!
My family and I have been using this product consistently now for several years. Long ago, I believed that the best way to obtain Vitamin C in our diet was through fresh fruit. Then, in a college chemistry course, we had a lab requiring us to measure the amount of vitamin C in an orange. I couldn't believe it- there was very little! I had been spending a lot of money purchasing organic oranges to make my children fresh orange juice, thinking that even though it was terrifically hard on our budget, they were getting this important vitamin. So, I briefly changed to solid supplements, until we had another lab and found that the binders used in some supplements are so effective at binding, that we couldn't dissolve them with HCl, or even sulfuric acid! Those binders were not going to give up the goods. I didn't want to try to figure out which brands would actually provide the Vit C and which ones would simply "pass through," so we started using this powdered Emergen-C. We immediately felt a difference in energy. First, I'll note that even though the Vitamin C is emphasized, there are more vitamins and minerals in each packet (see photo). The company sells similar products with variations in content, so if this isn't quite right for you, try looking into those. The dosage is listed as one packet daily; we each take two as this seems to be the right level for us, though the box warns not to exceed "suggested use." The directions state to mix it into a glass of water. It dissolves readily with some stirring, without the need to heat it. I am too impatient to dissolve every last bit, so I usually drink down the small amount that didn't dissolve immediately. There is a bit of a "fizz" produced, so if you put it into a water bottle be aware that pressure will increase in a closed system and you may get some spray when you open it up. The cardboard, glossy box is printed with vegetable-based inks, so when you are finished you can add it to your compost, vermicompost, or mushroom substrate. The box is cleverly designed so that you can open it two different ways. If you prefer to store it upright on the smallest side (perhaps to save space), then there is a pull-strip to open it up on the opposite small side, so that becomes the top of the box. The strip includes a tab to insert into the slot underneath so that you can close it again. All of the envelopes inside are separate packages, so closing it is most helpful if you would happen the box over- it isn't needed to preserve the quality of the product. There is another option provided to open it. One of the photos shows how it can be opened lengthwise. On the long side, short edge there is a small arrowhead where it says "push here to open." You could break a nail trying to do just that, it's best to lift from the nicely perforated curve just below that. Then, you can open it as far as you want- just a bit to slide one envelope out at a time, crease the top if you want to open it part-way, or remove the whole top along the perforations to expose the 30 packets. I like to open it all the way for the visual "cue" for my family to use them, just as the fruit & veggie bowl stays out to encourage healthy eating. Each packet is well-sealed plastic and separately labeled with the ingredients, expiration date and lot number. On the reverse side there is an orange arrow leading you to the small slit that allows you to easily open the packets without a scissors. This individual packaging makes it easy to take these along in a purse or backpack, store in a drawer at work, or to slip one into a get-well card when someone who you know is a little under the weather. I have never had one puncture or leak. These plastic envelopes do end up in our trash, which I do not like, yet the packaging seems to be the best possible design. The powder must be kept dry, so using paper envelopes would be risk the product quality and prevent taking these with us. We separate our doses during the day, so the ability to take it along is important to us. I suppose if they ever offer some with waxy paper envelopes, we'd use some of each type for home vs. taking on the go. The best value that we have ever found for this product is to include it in our regular subscriptions from Amazon. We know we're going to use it, so it's convenient to have it show up just when we'd need some more. If acid bothers your stomach, this product would offer you the option of complete control over the pacing of your dosage. Otherwise, you'd need a buffered product. All in all, I'd easily choose this as the only supplement my family and I couldn't live without
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