Which Vitamin C do you prefer? Ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate

Sodium ascorbate is a sodium salt of ascorbic acid. It is NOT Vitamin C (which is ascorbic acid) but may be better tolerated by the body. It is one of the 'mineral ascorbates' and is a recognised and safe food additive (E301, if you are in Europe). It is used as an acidity regulator (to prevent foods from being too acid) and as an antioxidant (mainly to stop foods from discolouring due to oxidation). You will certainly not come to any harm from taking it, so long as you stick to the recommended dosage. It shouldn't really be seen as a substitute or alternative, however. Vitamin C itself (ascorbic acid) is probably used by the body at some point as one or more of its salts but there is really no substitute for giving the body natural products - and by that I mean fruit and vegetables containing Vitamin C and, of course, other vitamins and minerals. In the short term (as when the body appears to need help with its immune system) and, perhaps, in situations where fresh fruit is not readily available, doses of artificial Vitamin C (that is chemical ascorbic acid tablets and drinks) may be beneficial but in the long term it is best to make sure that one has a good, balanced diet with fresh fruit, vegetables, carbohydrate, fibre and protein in proportion. Along with those, of course, come the necessary vitamins and minerals. It is much better to get your Vitamin C naturally in combination with all of the other things than to rely on a poor diet and supplements!