c_buzzin wrote: I usually hit the limit around 3 heaping 1/4 tsp measuring (1 gram) scoops of ascorbic acid powder
I would double check your measurements. One level tsp of AA powder/crystals is usually 4 grams, so each 1/4 tsp is a gram. Heaping could mean a lot on such a small measure. You may be taking 5-6 grams at a time. That is about the limit I have. However, when I feel a cold or something, I will not feel the side effects of 6 grams. I would suggest not taking more than 4 grams at a time, but take it 3-5 times a day. I can take 18 grams a day without a hitch, but at the 6 grams a dose level my body gets overloaded. Making the doses smaller, but more frequent helps with the gas.
You should see bowel tolerance to be much like filling a funnel. If, you fill it at a the proper rate you will never encounter an empty funnel, nor overfill and make a mess. When you overfilll with V-C, gas and loose stools (the mess) occurs. When you are sick the hole in the funnel widens and you have to increase the filling of the funnel or you run dry. Running dry of C means your cold or flu gets worse and critical areas like your arteries are left starving for ascorbic acid. The funnel has a capacity that allows your filling to be less than perfect, but clear extreme limits exist. With AA, too much fills your blood to the point that the bowel gets into trouble, while having too little eliminates any benefits you may receive for you plain run out of it.
I had recently put down a cold in 24hrs with 50 grams of V-C, most of that time feeling very minimal symptoms. I took extra (beyond my normal 18-20 grams a day) at the moment I noticed any symptom coming back. That made a believer of me. NO BT problems with 50 grams, it was the first time I had experienced such a high level.