Finding a potent vitamin C supplement that does not upset your stomach or taste overly sour should not be difficult. NOW Foods C-500 Chewable Cherry delivers a full 500 mg dose of immune-reinforcing vitamin C per tablet in a delicious, natural cherry-berry chewable. Unlike standard ascorbic acid pills that can feel like swallowing pure acid, this advanced formula uses a buffered blend of sodium ascorbate and ascorbic acid, making it naturally gentle on digestion while absorbing efficiently into the bloodstream.
At-a-Glance Formula Highlights
✓ 500 mg Buffered Vitamin C: Balanced combination of ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate to prevent heartburn and gastric irritation.
✓ Synergistic Bioflavonoid Support: Enhanced with Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex and Acerola fruit powder for optimal antioxidant utilization.
✓ Clean & Plant-Friendly: 100% Vegan, Halal, Kosher (Triangle K), and free from gluten, soy, dairy, eggs, nuts, and artificial colors.
✓ Verified Family-Owned Care: Sourced through VitaNet, LLC, an independent Ohio retailer serving health-conscious customers online since 1995 with a risk-free 100% money-back guarantee[cite: 1].
The Science of Buffered Vitamin C: Why Your Stomach Will Thank You
Vitamin C is essential for cellular defense, but regular high-potency supplements present a common problem: pure ascorbic acid is chemically acidic (pH ~2.5), roughly equivalent to lemon juice or vinegar. For individuals with sensitive stomachs, acid reflux, or ulcers, swallowing or chewing pure ascorbic acid can cause sour stomach, cramps, and heartburn.
NOW Foods solves this discomfort by combining Ascorbic Acid with Sodium Ascorbate (a mineral-bound, non-acidic salt of vitamin C). When bound to a mineral base, the pH rises to a comfortable, near-neutral range (~6.0 to 6.8). This natural buffering preserves your digestive comfort while maintaining the identical biological activity and immune benefits of whole vitamin C.
Why Add Citrus Bioflavonoids & Acerola?
In nature, vitamin C does not grow in isolation. Inside citrus fruits, it is naturally surrounded by botanical polyphenols known as bioflavonoids. Clinical investigations show that citrus bioflavonoids act synergistically with ascorbic acid, slowing down its oxidation in the gut and facilitating cellular retention (Vinson JA, Bose P. Comparative bioavailability to humans of ascorbic acid alone or in a citrus extract. Am J Clin Nutr. 1988;48(3):601-604).
NOW incorporates both a dedicated Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex and genuine Acerola Fruit Powder (Malpighia punicifolia)—one of the richest botanical sources of vitamin C in the world—to mirror the complex nutrient matrix found in whole food.
Everyday Health Benefits: How Vitamin C Powers Your Body
Because human beings cannot synthesize vitamin C internally, we rely entirely on daily dietary intake. Taking 500 mg per chewable provides 556% of your daily value, which scientific literature links to vital biochemical functions:
1. White Blood Cell Defense
Vitamin C accumulates inside neutrophils and macrophages (your body's front-line immune cells) at concentrations up to 100 times higher than in blood plasma. It powers their ability to detect, engulf, and neutralize foreign microbes during environmental stress (Carr AC, Maggini S. Nutrients. 2017;9(11):1211).
2. Collagen Synthesis & Skin Elasticity
Collagen cannot cross-link without vitamin C acting as an essential cofactor for prolyl and lysyl hydroxylase enzymes. Regular intake supports strong gum tissues, resilient joint cartilage, and firm, elastic skin structure.
3. Free Radical Quenching
Metabolism, sun exposure, and city pollutants constantly produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). As a primary water-soluble antioxidant, ascorbic acid intercepts free radicals before they can damage lipid membranes, cell proteins, or delicate DNA.
4. Enhanced Plant Iron Absorption
Non-heme iron from plant sources like spinach and beans is notoriously difficult for the body to absorb. Vitamin C chemically reduces ferric iron to ferrous iron, significantly elevating dietary iron uptake across the intestinal lining.
NOW Foods Quality Standards: ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited Lab Testing
In an unregulated online marketplace flooded with unverified private labels, safety depends on transparent laboratory verification. NOW Foods maintains one of the most advanced analytical private testing complexes in North America at their Bloomingdale, Illinois, manufacturing campus.
Uncompromising Analytical Capabilities:
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accredited Facilities: Over 160 specialized in-house chemists, microbiologists, and technicians conduct more than 37,000 analytical determinations every single month across raw ingredients and finished goods.
Trace Heavy Metal Screening via ICP-MS: Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, incoming lots are screened for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury down to parts-per-billion (ppb) detection limits, strictly meeting or exceeding California Proposition 65 thresholds.
400+ Pesticide & Herbicide Screen: Botanical materials undergo gas chromatography and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS) to ensure zero detectable synthetic pesticide residues, alongside IC-MS/MS screening for glyphosate.
Full Microbiological Safety Panels: Every batch is cultured and evaluated to ensure complete absence of pathogenic microbes, including Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, with strict limits on yeast and molds.
Exposing Marketplace Adulteration: NOW independently purchases and tests bargain brands sold on mass online retail platforms, frequently uncovering severe potency failures and filler fraud. Choosing certified NOW items ensures you receive the exact bioactive potency stated on the label.
Complete transparency is the cornerstone of trust. Below is the verified nutritional panel for NOW Foods Product Item # 0640 (UPC: 733739006400), verified against manufacturer release specifications:
Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut, or sesame ingredients. Produced in an audited GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens. Natural color variation (speckled purple tablet) is normal in this botanical product.
To maximize your nutritional benefits while staying completely safe, keep these practical guidelines in mind:
Recommended Serving & Timing:
Chew 1 tablet 1 to 2 times daily. Taking your chewable with or right after a meal optimizes bioflavonoid assimilation and further shields gastric tissue.
Dental Enamel Care Tip:
Even though this tablet is buffered, all chewable vitamin C supplements contain mild residual organic acids. After chewing, swish your mouth with plain water to rinse away acid residues and protect dental enamel. Avoid brushing your teeth for 30 minutes after chewing.
Critical Warning for Pet Owners (Xylitol):
This product contains Xylitol as a natural tooth-friendly sweetener. While completely safe for humans, xylitol causes rapid, life-threatening hypoglycemia and acute liver failure in dogs and cats. Store this bottle tightly closed in high cabinets well out of reach of family pets. If accidental pet ingestion occurs, contact an emergency veterinarian immediately.
Who Should Consult a Doctor First?
Kidney Stone History: Doses above 2,000 mg/day (the adult Tolerable Upper Intake Level established by the National Institutes of Health) can increase urinary oxalate levels in susceptible individuals.
Iron Storage Disorders: Individuals with hemochromatosis should consult their physician, as vitamin C actively enhances dietary iron absorption.
Sodium-Restricted Diets: Each tablet contains 40 mg of sodium from sodium ascorbate (2% DV). Keep this modest level in mind if your physician has placed you on an ultra-strict low-sodium regimen.
The VitaNet Advantage: Trusted Supplement Specialists Since 1995
Where you buy your supplements matters just as much as the brand you choose. When purchasing vitamins through open third-party marketplaces, consumers frequently risk receiving counterfeit lots, products past their prime, or bottles exposed to uncontrolled warehouse heat that degrades delicate nutrients like vitamin C.
Why Customers Rely on VitaNet, LLC:
Over 31 Years of Direct Experience: VitaNet, LLC has operated as an independent, family-owned nutritional retailer since 1995 from our storefront in Hartville, Ohio[cite: 1].
Guaranteed Factory Freshness: All inventory comes directly from vetted manufacturer supply chains and is housed in climate-regulated storage facilities.
Unconditional 100% Money-Back Guarantee: We stand behind our curated catalog. If you are unsatisfied for any reason, we refund your purchase and even pay the return shipping costs—even on opened bottles[cite: 1]!
BBB A+ Accredited Service: Real supplement professionals are available to assist you by phone at (330) 877-8786 or at our Hartville, Ohio retail location[cite: 1].
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why choose chewable vitamin C over regular swallowable tablets or capsules?
Chewable tablets are an ideal choice for adults or seniors who experience dysphagia (difficulty swallowing large pills). Chewing also begins the mechanical breakdown process in the mouth, speeding stomach dissolution while providing a pleasant, naturally sweet cherry taste without artificial sweeteners.
What makes buffered vitamin C better for a sensitive stomach?
Pure ascorbic acid has a low, acidic pH (~2.5) that can trigger stomach acid production, causing reflux, cramping, or nausea. By combining ascorbic acid with mineral sodium ascorbate, this chewable neutralizes excessive acidity into a gentle pH range (~6.0 to 6.8), protecting your stomach lining while delivering full vitamin potency.
How does NOW Foods test this supplement for heavy metals and contaminants?
NOW tests every production batch in their ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories. Scientists utilize Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to quantify lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic at trace parts-per-billion levels. They also screen for over 400 pesticides via GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS and perform strict microbiological assays to rule out pathogens.
Can I give this chewable vitamin C tablet to my pet dog or cat?
No, never give this product to pets. This chewable contains xylitol, a natural sugar alcohol that is safe for humans but triggers rapid insulin surges, severe hypoglycemia, and acute liver failure in dogs. Always keep this bottle secured away from pets and seek immediate emergency veterinary attention if accidental ingestion occurs.
Does chewing vitamin C harm dental enamel?
Because all chewable ascorbic acid products contact tooth surfaces, prolonged or frequent contact with acidic residues can soften dental enamel. To protect your teeth, rinse your mouth with water right after chewing the tablet, and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth.
What is the role of citrus bioflavonoids and acerola in this formula?
Bioflavonoids and acerola fruit powder mimic the natural co-nutrients found in fresh citrus fruit. Clinical studies show that citrus bioflavonoids work synergistically with ascorbic acid, reducing its rate of oxidation and enhancing cellular antioxidant bioavailability.
What is VitaNet's return policy if this chewable does not suit my taste?
VitaNet offers a 100% unconditional money-back guarantee[cite: 1]. If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, you can return it for a full refund[cite: 1]. VitaNet even covers the return shipping costs—even on opened bottles[cite: 1]!
