Can you eat Emergen-c powder without water?
In this brief guide, we will address the query, “Can you eat emergen-c powder without water?” We will also discuss the importance of Vitamin C and the effectiveness of Emergen-c.
Can you eat Emergen-c without water?
No, you can’t eat Emergen-c powder without water. Try as you might, the powder will be very unpleasant on your tongue and throat and can make you choke and cough. Emergen-c such as other supplements of vitamin C are made to be consumed with water for better absorption and comfort.
However, Emergen-C is a brand that has other products containing Vitamin C that you can eat without water, such as chewables and gummies. The gummies are sweets enriched with ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and the chewables are made for greater functionality and can be dissolved in water or not.
Why does the Emergen-c be effervescent?
Tablets and effervescent powders are usually made using a weak organic acid (ascorbic, citric, and tartaric acid, for example) and carbonated base(mainly sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, and calcium carbonate).
In organic chemistry, we learn about the reactions between acids and bases, being acid substances that release H+ in an aqueous medium and bases substances that release OH- in an aqueous medium.
When the powder comes into contact with water, ionization takes place leaving the acid and base ions available for reaction, causing the formation of carbonic acid (H2CO3), which is not very stable and decomposes into bubbles of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water, thus resulting in a fizzy liquid.
What is the importance of vitamin C for our health?
Vitamin C is the water-soluble acid that our body uses to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscles and collagen, being a precursor of several reactions. Vitamin C has an antioxidant effect helping the body’s healing process as well as protecting against free radicals.
Vitamin C also assists in the process of iron absorption, making it a good option to consume a meal combining the two. However, vitamin C is not produced or stored by the body and any daily surplus is discarded through the urine.
The recommended consumption for the population between 19 and 64 years is 40 mg per day to ensure the proper functioning of the body and prevent scurvy. The dose offered in a sachet of Emergen-c is 1000 mg, on the border between hypervitaminosis that can cause flatulence and stomach pain.
What are the foods that provide a more significant intake of vitamin C?
So we know that vitamin C has several functions and its consumption is very beneficial for our immune system and collagen production, but where can we find it in nature? The table below shows foods with a good amount of vitamin C per 100g of food:
| Food | Mg of vitamin C per 100g |
| Acerola Cherry | 1678 |
| Guava | 228 |
| Bell Peppers | 128 |
| Kiwifruit | 93 |
| Broccoli | 89 |
| Papaya | 61 |
| Snow Peas | 60 |
| Strawberry | 59 |
| Orange | 53 |
| Tomato | 23 |
| Kale | 18 |
Vitamin C can also be obtained from herbs and spices such as coriander, thyme, red and green peppers, but as we usually eat in small amounts of them, they do not add a large amount of the vitamin to the diet.
A relevant point to remember is that vitamin C is unstable and can be lost through freezing, cooking, and exposure to air in general. For example, commercial orange juice, to increase its shelf life and reduce its risk of contamination, is usually sterilized through pasteurization and part of the vitamin C in it needs to be restored through the addition of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).
Therefore, if possible, give preference to fresh fruits and vegetables as they provide a greater dose of vitamin C but if you only find these foods already processed (frozen and/or in the form of juice) there is no problem as they will also be beneficial.
Is Emergen-C effective in preventing colds?
Emergen-c promises, among other benefits, a quick recovery from colds and flu due to its combination of vitamins, but more studies are still needed to ensure its effectiveness.
A 2018 review showed that vitamin C supplementation in people with colds relieved major symptoms such as fever, chills and chest pain as well as shortened their duration.
However, while vitamin C can be useful for treatment, it was not as effective in preventing colds according to a review published in 2013, showing that individuals who use vitamin C supplements daily may not gain much advantage in this matter.
It is also important to remember that the articles do not indicate the supplement used and generally use only isolated vitamin C to perform the tests and not a set of vitamins as is the case with Emergen-c.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we have addressed the query, “Can you eat Emergen-c without water?” We have also discussed the importance of Vitamin C and the effectiveness of Emergen-c.
Hope you found this blog useful. If you have any questions, please let us know.
