Daily Mail, September 2005
Two Grapefruit a Day to Beat Gum Disease
Eating grapefruit could help gum disease, say researchers. Having just two grapefruit a day pushed vitamin c levels in the body and stops bleeding gums.
The antioxidant effect of vitamin C appears to increase healing in the gums, say researchers at the Friedrich-Schiller University in Germany. A new study published in the British Medical Journal looked at grapefruit’s effect on 58 people – smokers and non-smokers.
Most of the volunteers had lower then normal vitamin C levels – with the levels of those who smoked 29 % below those of non-smokers and most suffered bleeding gums.
About half ate two grapefruit each day for a fortnight after a main meal. All those eating grapefruit had higher levels of vitamin C in the blood by the end pf the two-week study, said researchers.
In non-smokers vitamin C rose by 50% and almost doubled in smokers, while levels remain unchanged in volunteers who did not eat grapefruit.
There was also a significant reduction in bleeding from the gums among those who ate grapefruit.
A spokesman for the British Dental Association said ‘Because vitamin C promotes the healing of wounds and boasts antioxidant properties it contributes to the therapy and prevention on gum disease.’
The spokesman added that any fruit rich in vitamin C would probably have a similar effect.
Jenny Hope.
The Daily Mail
