High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can lead to serious health problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, if left untreated. What’s worse, the culprit doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms while quietly boosting your risk. Fortunately, certain foods have blood pressure busting effects. One small food, in particular, has been shown to lower hypertension in days.
High blood pressure describes the long-term force of your blood against your artery walls that is high enough to trigger health problems, the Mayo Clinic explains.
In the UK, around one third of Britons suffer from this condition.
The NHS explains many might not even realise it due to the lack of symptoms.
According to research, one food that can lower the culprit in days is blackcurrants.
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The research published in the Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics looked at the effects of New Zealand blackcurrant extract, in particular.
Blackcurrants are packing pigments that colour plants black, purple, blue or red called anthocyanins.
Anthocyanins are also rich in antioxidants, which are thought to offer protective cardiovascular benefits.
The study looked at 14 older adults, aged on average 69 years.
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These adults were divided into two groups with one of them following the blackcurrant protocol while the other consumed a placebo.
The blackcurrant extract was administered at 600 milligrams daily.
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After following this regimen for seven days, the researchers measured the participants’ blood pressure.
They found the blackcurrant extract was able to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
In case you’re not aware, blood pressure is measured with two numbers – systolic pressure (the higher number) and diastolic pressure (the lower number).
Another reason why currants could have blood pressure lowering powers is their potassium content, according to Blood Pressure UK.
They report that the essential mineral plays a part in how much fluid is in your body and how much goes out.
The problem with too much fluid is that there will also be more fluid in your blood, consequently putting strain on your blood vessels and raising your blood pressure.
To remove excess fluid from your blood, you need a “fine balance” of sodium and potassium, the charity explains.
Having enough potassium helps to pull out water from your blood and into the kidneys.
Blood Pressure UK adds: “By eating more foods that are high in potassium, you can help to restore the balance, allowing the kidneys to work well and lower your blood pressure.”
And currants are “particularly high” in potassium, according to the charity.
Remember, the only reliable way to know your blood pressure levels is to have a reading.
The ideal blood pressure reading is considered to be between 90/60 millimetres of mercury(mm/Hg) and 120/80mmHg, according to the NHS.
Source: Daily Express
