We live in a time where juicing is a type of craze where we intend to drink it to lose weight or to make us feel “healthier.” A new clinical study published in the British Journal of Nutrition has shown that juices enriched with polyphenols, or in other words, fruits and vegetables may help reduce blood pressure (BP) and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the long run.
Polyphenols are a large family of natural compounds found in plant foods that provides protection from various types of stress and cellular damage. It has been shown that polyphenols have effects on platelet aggregation, blood pressure and cholesterol, factors that are associated with CVD.
With a combination of several different polyphenols, in which we can find in these juices, may work with one another to bring about their effects.
This study was performed to determine the effects of polyphenol rich juices on blood pressure.
The clinical trial included 134 healthy individuals with the following characteristics:
- Aged 50-70 years, with high normal range BP (130/85 to 139/89mmHg) or stage 1-2 hypertension (140/90 to 179/109mmHg).
- Daily intake of 500ml (~2.5 cups) of MANA blue, Optijuice, or placebo juice for 12 weeks.
MANA blue consists of red grapes, cherries, chokeberries and bilberries; Optijuice is similar to MANA but enriched with extracts from blackcurrant press-residue.
While the placebo juice was developed with comparable amounts of energy, carbohydrates, potassium and color to mimic the other two juices. It contained maltodextrin, sugar, KCl, blueberry flavor, grape flavor, citric acid and dye.
Results from the study:
- Together, MANA blue and Optijuice were able to reduce systolic BP over time compared with the placebo group.
- At week 6, both study groups (high normal range BP or stage 1-2 hypertension) reduced systolic BP of about 6.9mmHg. (In the stage 1-2 hypertension group, 7.3mmHg was reduced from their systolic BP.)
- At week 12, both had reduced their systolic BP by 3.4mmHg and those in stage 1-2 hypertension alone, reduced their BP by 6.8mmHg.
Take away message: Healthy foods taken in a liquid form can be easily added to a regular diet. The findings from this study suggest that polyphenol-rich berry juice may contribute to a blood pressure lowering effect, especially in those with a more pronounced hypertension.
British Journal of Nutrition. 2015; Volume 114 (Issue 7):Pages 1054-63.
Categories: Antioxidant, Clinical Trials, High Blood Pressure