There has been evidence to suggest that fruit and vegetable consumption can lower high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
One way to increase the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) is by increasing fruits and vegetables or even supplementation as shown in short-term clinical trials.
A recent study was performed in France to determine if antioxidant can decrease hypertension (i.e. high blood pressure.
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Here are the study details
Human subjects: 74,520 participants responded to a follow-up questionnaire that included a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire
Method: Antioxidant supplement intake was assessed through the 1995, 2000, 2002, and 2005 questionnaires.
Participants were asked about their intakes of different vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, vitamin C, and beta-carotene if consumed at least three times per week.
You can read about plant medicine for improving heard, hypertension and cardiovascular function.
Here are the main results
Increasing total antioxidant capacity was associated with decreased blood pressure (i.e. decreased hypertension).
Here is what the authors had to say
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that an inverse association between the dietary total antioxidant capacity and the risk of hypertension has been shown.
And
In our analyses considering the antioxidant capacity of specific food groups, dietary TAC of fruit and vegetables, of wine, and of other miscellaneous foods were inversely associated with hypertension.
And
Our findings showed that a high TAC diet was associated with a reduced risk of incident hypertension in women, suggesting that promoting a diet naturally rich in antioxidants might help prevent the development of hypertension. These results have to be interpreted cautiously
Reference:
Paola Villaverde, Martin Lajous, Conor-James MacDonald, Guy Fagherazzi, Fabrice Bonnet† and Marie-Christine Boutron-Ruault. High dietary total antioxidant capacity is associated with a reduced risk of hypertension in French women. Nutrition Journal 201, Volume 18: page 31
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Blood Pressure, Food, High Blood Pressure, Plant Medicine