Vegetables Help Lower Blood Pressure

OSAKA, JAPAN —A recent study conducted at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center in Osaka and published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, found that a diet rich in vegetables could help lower blood pressure.

The study reviewed 39 previous studies that included about 22,000 participants. The researchers compared blood sugar levels of people who consumed mainly vegetables compared to those who consumed a lot of meat.

The team found that those who consumed mainly vegetables had significantly lower blood pressure levels compared to those who consumed a lot of meat. On average those who consumed vegetables lowered their systolic blood pressure (top number) by 5 to 7mm/Hg points and lowered their diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) by 2 to 5mm/HG points.

According to the American Heart Association, your systolic blood pressure (top number) should be less than 120 and your diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) should be less than 80.

The researchers noted that the type of vegetables consumed did not seem to matter; it was the amount/frequency of meat the participants consumed that really showed significant differences in regards to blood pressure levels.

If you are interested in lowering your blood pressure levels, you might want to consider limiting the amount of meat and adding more vegetables to your daily diet.

Have a great day.