Stroke Health Center

Low Vitamin C Increases Stroke Risk

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"We like to think that vitamin C in natural sources has some special synergy and works with other elements in the food to make it more effective in creating a line of defense," Hattner tells WebMD.

"The problem with the elderly is that they may not want the acidity in their diet and may avoid orange juice," says Hattner.

Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, can cause heartburn or acid reflux (a back-up of stomach acids into the esophagus) in some people. But Hattner says eating or drinking citrus products with other foods can minimize this effect.

Even squeezing some lemon or lime juice on salads or vegetables can add an extra dose of vitamin C to your diet, suggests Hattner. Other, lesser-known sources of vitamin C that people often overlook include strawberries, cantaloupe, papaya, broccoli, and cabbage.