Mediterranean Diet Helps Maintain Lower Blood Pressure
LeeSwanson Research Update
Following a Mediterranean-style diet, rich in olive oil and fruit and vegetables, may improve vascular health and reduce the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure), according to a new study.
Findings published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition report that a diet rich in olive oil and fruit and vegetables was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of hypertension.
The Mediterranean Diet is rich in cereals, fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish and olive oil. Although it is the traditional diet of the Mediterranean region, it has garnered interest all over the world in recent times as a scientific spotlight has been trained on the health benefits it can confer.
For instance, recent research has indicated that the diet may have benefits for arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, heart health and blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, lung disease and allergies.
Led by Dr. Jorge Nunez-Cordoba from the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, the scientists analyzed data from 8,594 men and women with an average age of 41.1. According to the new data, fruit and vegetables were associated with a reduced risk of hypertension only in people with low olive oil consumption of less than 15 grams per day.
High blood pressure, defined as having a systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) greater than 140 and 90 mmHg, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 63(5):605-612, 2009
Contact Us | About Us | Newsroom | Job Opportunities | Guarantees | Policies
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/health-library/articles/blood-pressure
-support/mediterranean-diet-helps-maintain-lower-blood-pressure.html?SourceCode=INTHIR320