Vitamin C to ward off stroke?

By 19. February 2014Blog, Health, Nutrition

Another reason to make sure you’re getting a good dose of fresh fruit and veg.

Research that is due to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 66th Annual Meeting in April this year found that people who had suffered a Hemorrhagic stroke had in general less vitamin C in their blood compared to healthy people.

Sixty five people who had suffered “an hemorrhagic stroke, or a blood vessel rupture inside the brain” were compared to 65 people who had not.  Of the 130 participants 14% were deficient of Vitamin C, 45% had less than recommended and the remaining 41% had normal levels. On average the people who had suffered a stroke were deficient or had less than the recommended vitamin C levels.

The researchers suggest that low vitamin C levels should be taken into account as a risk factor. High blood pressure, drinking alcohol and being overweight are also considered risk factors by the researchers.

If you are not a fan of oranges fear not, vitamin C is in many fresh fruit and vegetables including: red bell pepper, kiwi fruit, broccoli and strawberries.  Click here to see the full list on the American National Institute of Health website.

The press release about the research can be found here.