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vitamin C
How is everyone getting enough vitamin C? I've hit the 2 year mark of being very low A and though the skin on my arms is looking smoother I still have hardly any hair on them, and the few hairs I do have are short and curled... on my legs too, with (I think?) keratin build up in the follicles? So I'm thinking this is a vitamin C deficiency? But things like lemons, pineapple (amines/sulphites/histamines?) have really wrecked my forehead skin, which is the worst it's ever been, like it's constantly burnt... even worse than before I started this diet. But if avoid amines/high histamine foods then it tends to clear up a lot. But it's been a vicious cycle these last 4-5 months, months which have also been my highest detox months and weightless months.
I used to take high-dose vitamin C before I started this low a diet using the Dr. Smith guidelines. I no longer take that at all. I do get variety in my diet because I follow the Dr. Smith guidelines. Currently operating under the hypothesis that vitamin a depletes a lot of other things, so I’m hoping that those other things will normalize. However I did do mineral testing with Dr. Smith. have you had your zinc tested? I’m kind of doing everything that I can do, I’m a little haphazard but I try to do all the things at once to see if it all works together. I’ve learned my lesson over the years not to waste my time. Just do all the things that I think will help. So far I’m having some good results. The only thing that has shown up as a negative has been UV light on my skin, Hot bath water, and pre-existing cholestasis which has become evident when I was ramping up soluble fiber. However my hair falling out has been relieved since I started the diet six months ago. I think I have some new hairs growing in.
@rachel-2 that is great news about new hairs growing in. I occasionally supplement zinc and all B's minus B6... I am so afraid of supplementing but I know at this point I am definitely low in certain things. I can't afford any testing so I just keep going, and pay attention to my body and intuition, ask questions. I learned the hard way about soluble fibre, or at least it went great for 18 months and then suddenly it didn't go well, so I really cut back on it... especially oats and I am zero gluten too which has made a huge positive difference.
Some near zero VA foods with vitamin C:
Parsnip
Celeriac
Peeled radish
Lychee
Cauliflower
White-fleshed peeled potatoes
If you're less strict / less sensitive, peeled apples and peeled pears.
Animal foods like meat have a lot of dehydroascorbate, which according to some people is easily converted into ascorbate (vitamin c) as needed in the body. Ascorbic acid powder is very cheap, some grocery stores sell it, in the spice / food additves section. You might be able to pick up a small bag of vitamin c powder that way, for 2-3 dollars. Some people question the purity of vitamin C powders and they might have a point but I don't think it's not accutely toxic or anything like that, and I've taken a lot of it in the past when dealing with harsh respiratory infections. Still, it might be worth considering if it's something you intend to take long term.