Vitamin C Helps Gums

By:   Jean Carper

Eating two vitamin C-rich grapefruits a day--or taking a supplement with the equivalent amount of vitamins--helps to heal inflamed gums, reducing risk of periodontal disease.

So say German researches who studied 58 people with low levels of vitamin C and periodontitis (gum disease, including bleeding). After two weeks of eating grapefruit, blood levels of vitamin C rose more than 50% in non-smokers and nearly doubled in smokers. And bleeding gum scores improved about 60% in non-smokers.

So be sure to get your daily dose if vitamin C. Two medium grapefruits (4-inch) diameter contain about 175 milligrams.

Copyright 2004 Jean Carper. Printed first in USA Weekend. All rights reserved.

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