Two Grapefruit a Day May Keep the Dentist Away

Fruitful news

Two grapefruits a day may just keep the dentist away. Scientists in Germany have discovered that the vitamin C in grapefruit can significantly reduce the gum bleeding and inflammation associated with periodontal disease.

In this most recent study, volunteers who ate two grapefruits a day for two weeks boosted their vitamin C levels, and researchers theorized that, in doing so, the participants also accelerated their body's ability to heal and boosted their supply of antioxidants which mop up harmful free radicals. The scientists suggested that the vitamin C is the reason the grapefruit reduced gum bleeding.

The study focused on nearly 60 people with periodontitis, some of whom smoked, and nearly all of whom had low blood-levels of vitamin C. In fact, the smokers had nearly 1/3 less vitamin C in their blood than the non-smokers.

After two weeks of eating grapefruit, vitamin C levels were measured again, and although the smokers' levels had nearly doubled, they were still much lower than that of the non-smokers. Still, both groups experienced less gum bleeding and less inflammation.

But while grapefruit has many fine qualities in addition to its gum-protecting effects, such as its ability to help control insulin levels and enhance digestion, eating tons of it can actually have a corrosive effect on the enamel of teeth, so you may want to look at other sources of vitamin C, like green leafy vegetables.

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Yours in good health,
Amanda Ross
Editorial Director
Nutrition & Healing