Stop Stroke and Diabetes with This Vitamin

Broccoli lovers, know this: Your favorite veggie is loving you right back, with ample amounts of this stroke-stomping, diabetes-deterring nutrient -- vitamin C.

High blood levels of vitamin C could cut stroke risk by as much as 42 percent and reduce your odds of developing type 2 diabetes by a whopping 62 percent.

"C" the Stats
Yep, that's exactly what happened in two recent studies involving middle-aged and older adults. As blood levels of C went up, risks went down. Researchers suspect that the vitamin's strong antioxidant qualities may be the reason for its protective effects. And there's no better way to raise your blood levels of C than to start filling your body with C-rich winter foods like broccoli, brussels sprouts, and oranges. Find more top C sources here.

One Vital Vitamin
Slashing stroke and diabetes risk is just part of what vitamin C does. Here are a few of its many other roles:

• Sight saver. Along with beta carotene, vitamin E, and zinc, C lowers the odds of this leading cause of blindness.
• Gum soother. Find out why extra C may mean seeing less blood in the sink when you brush.
• Breath buddy. Your lungs love vitamin C. Here's why.

Recipe Corner
Invite a few spears of broccoli to dinner tonight with this quick and easy recipe: Braised Chicken Thighs with Broccoli and Olives.

Plasma vitamin C level, fruit and vegetable consumption, and the risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus: the European prospective investigation of cancer--Norfolk prospective study. Harding, A. H. et al., Archives of Internal Medicine 2008 Jul 28;168(14):1493-1499.

Plasma vitamin C concentrations predict risk of incident stroke over 10 y in 20 649 participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer Norfolk prospective population study. Myint, P. K. et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008 Jan;87(1):64-69.