Veggies, fruits protect from stroke
Eating plenty of oranges, capsicum and kiwi fruits could protect you from stroke thanks to their high vitamin C content, according to French researchers.
Stephane Vannier, from Pontchaillou University Hospital in Rennes, tested the vitamin C levels in the blood of 65 people who had the most deadly type of stroke against 65 healthy participants.
They found 41% of the participants had normal vitamin C levels, 45% had depleted vitamin C levels and 14% were completely deficient of vitamin C.
The stroke victims were much more likely to have depleted vitamin C levels, compared to the healthy participants.
“Our results show that vitamin C deficiency should be considered a risk factor for this severe type of stroke, as are high blood pressure, drinking alcohol and being overweight in our study,” Dr Vannier said.
Vitamin C deficiency has also been linked with heart disease.
“More research is needed to explore specifically how vitamin C may help to reduce stroke risk. For example, the vitamin may regulate blood pressure.”
Vitamin C helps the body create collagen, the protein found in bones, skin and tissues.
The association doesn't necessarily mean that vitamin C prevents strokes, or lack of it causes them, experts caution.
