Page 21 - Florida Sentinel 8-27-21

Health
Bleeding Gums, Nosebleeds, Bruises
Vitamin C keeps your blood vessels healthy, and it helps your blood clot. Collagen is also es- sential for healthy teeth and gums. One study found that peo- ple with gum disease who ate grapefruit for 2 weeks noticed their gums didn't bleed as much.
Slow Wound Healing
When you get hurt, levels of vitamin C in your blood and tis- sue go down. Your body needs it to make collagen, a protein that plays a role in each stage of repairing the skin. And vitamin C helps neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that fights off infection, work well.
Dry, Wrinkled Skin
People who eat a healthy diet with plenty of vitamin C may have smoother, softer skin. One possible reason: Because vitamin C is an antioxidant, it can help protect your skin from free radi- cals. These break down oils, pro- teins, and even DNA.
Vision Loss
If you have age-related macu- lar degeneration (AMD), it may get worse faster without vitamin C and other antioxidants and certain minerals. Getting enough vitamin C from foods might help prevent cataracts, but we need more research to understand that relationship better.
Weak Immunity
Since vitamin C has several jobs related to your immune sys- tem, it shouldn't surprise you to learn you're more likely to get sick and may have a harder time recov- ering. There's some evidence that vitamin C can help protect you from illness such as pneumonia and bladder infections. It may even lower your odds of heart dis- ease and some types of cancer.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 9-B