Wonderful blueberries - better than blood pressure lowering drugs

According to a new study, blueberries are also highly effective natural anti-hypertensive agents.

Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerous

Just eating 200 grams a day of blueberries for a month to keep blood pressure at bay. The credit would be all of their blue color, given by anthocyanins, a type of phytochemical with valuable antioxidant properties that in the control of hypertension could have a role equal to that of drugs.

This is supported by a study by King's College London in a research published in Journal of Gerontology Series A, which emphasizes how these magnificent blue fruits are a real panacea for cardio-circulatory health.

Not only excellent for regulating pressure in menopause, against infections and to overcome traumatic experiences, blueberries now also rise to the role of natural anti-hypertensive agents.

A systematic review

To achieve these results, the researchers asked 40 healthy subjects to randomly take a drink containing 200 grams of blueberries or another matching control drink for one month each day. The team monitored chemicals in the volunteers' blood and urine as well as blood pressure and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, a measure of how the artery widens when blood flow increases, considered a sensitive biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk.

In a further study, the researchers compared the effects of a blueberry-based drink with those of purified anthocyanins, the substance responsible for the blue, red, pink and purple color of certain fruits and vegetables such as berries and red grapes. They also compared these data with control drinks containing similar levels of fiber, minerals or vitamins found in blueberries, and from cross-referencing the data, it was found that the effects of taking the blueberry drink on vascular function were visible as early as two hours and that during the month of the experiment the systolic blood pressure, the one detected when the heart contracts and pushes the blood into the arteries, was reduced by 5 mmHg, a value more or less equivalent to that guaranteed by the drugs used to lower blood pressure.

also the drinks containing purified anthocyanins led to improvements in endothelial function. Endothelial cells act as a barrier between the blood or lymph and the surrounding tissue of the body, as well as playing key roles in blood clotting and blood pressure regulation.
All beneficial effects that did not emerge from the intake of the alternative drink to that based on blueberries, nor of those with levels of substances and nutrients similar to blueberries, two and six hours after consumption.

"Although it is best to eat blueberries whole to fully enjoy their benefits, our study indicates that most of the effects can be traced back to anthocyanins," says researcher Ana Rodriguez-Mateos. If the observed changes in blood vessel function after eating blueberries every day could be prolonged throughout a person's life it could reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 20%.

So, if it's all about the color of blueberries, here is the whole rainbow of fruits and vegetables that will help you stay healthy and fit!