3245: Should You Avoid Vitamin C After a Workout

December 24, 2024

3245: Should You Avoid Vitamin C After a Workout

December 24, 2024

TWT: Should You Avoid Vitamin C After a Workout

Some say taking vitamin C post-workout can interfere with muscle repair and hinder your progress…

Others argue it helps with recovery by acting as an antioxidant and reducing overall stress on the body.

So, which is it?

On today’s show, we’ll explore the research to help you understand how and when to take vitamin C effectively.

So join me on today’s Cabral Concept 3245 to find out whether you should take vitamin C after your workout or not. Enjoy the show, and let me know your thoughts!

Show Highlights & Big Takeaways

1. What Does the Research Say

Exercise creates oxidative stress as muscles break down and adapt to become stronger. While vitamin C has antioxidant properties, taking too much can block the oxidative stress signals necessary for muscle repair and adaptation.

2. Bio-individuality

The amount of vitamin C you can take without disrupting the repair process depends on your level of oxidative stress. For most people, consuming more than 0.5g of vitamin C after a workout might interfere with the repair signals and hinder mitochondrial biogenesis.

3. How Much and When Should You Take It

If your goal is to reduce oxidative stress, support aging processes, and improve inflammation or immunity, vitamin C can be beneficial when taken after workouts—especially if you feel overly inflamed. However, if your focus is on muscle gains, it’s better to not take over 500mg of vitamin C in the 4-6 hour window post-workout. This ensures you don’t disrupt your body’s natural repair and adaptation process.

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