Study links sugary drinks with higher blood pressure

Last year I wrote about a study which found that drinking sugary drinks was associated to increased blood pressure (a risk for heart disease and other health problems).  A newly published study (1) has backed up these findings showing that adults who drink sugar-sweetened drinks tend to have higher blood pressure levels.

The study [...]

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Bioactive plant compounds in berries may help to reduce high blood pressure

Studies have previously found that flavonoids (bioactive plant compounds), found in various vegetables and fruits, can have beneficial effects on blood pressure when given to individuals in an ‘intervention’ study setting.  A new study (1) carried out at the University of East Anglia UK and Harvard University USA and published in the American Journal [...]

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Study finds that watermelon seems to be effective in blood pressure lowering

Last year I wrote about Watermelon and how it contains an amino acid (the building blocks of protein) called citrulline.  This amino acid is converted in the body to arginine.  In turn arginine is used in the body to produce nitric oxide which causes blood vessels to relax, or dilate, and allow increased blood [...]

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Cutting down on sugary drinks may lower blood pressure

High blood pressure is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and other health problems.  Eating a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables and oily fish, which are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, and low in salt is associated with a reduced blood pressure.  A recently published study (1) has found [...]

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Study finds fish oil may be useful for overweight teenagers

Oily fish, such as salmon, trout, mackerel and sardines, and fish oil supplements provide the body with the long chain omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) that are so important for health and which I write about so frequently.  In adults there is indication that fish oil is important for heart health, it can help [...]

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A few pieces of dark chocolate Easter egg might be good for the heart

Yesterday was Easter Sunday and I expect that there are still plenty of Easter eggs and chocolate lurking in many homes?!  If you happen to have received a dark chocolate egg made from cocoa-rich chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids) this could be good news for your health.  A newly published study, in the [...]

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High salt intake impacts more than just blood pressure

 

Many individuals are aware of the link between excess salt intake and high blood pressure.  Numerous studies exist to back up this link and further studies have shown that it is possible to achieve significant reductions in blood pressure, in individuals with high and normal blood pressure levels, by reducing salt intake.

A research [...]

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New study finds beetroot juice boosts stamina during exercise

A research team at the University of Exeter has just published results of a study which shows (1) that drinking beetroot juice may help boost stamina and help individuals to exercise for up to 16% longer than they are normally able to, this may be down to the nitrate content of the beetroot juice.  The [...]

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Fill up with flavonoids

As you are aware from my previous posts I champion vegetable and fruit consumption.  These treasures are abundant in taste, texture, vitamins, mineral and fibre…..but they are also full of bioflavonoids, or flavanoids (members of the polyphenol family).  Flavonoids are bioactive plant compounds which have gained increasing amount of publicity over the last few [...]

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Boosting potassium levels through fruit and vegetable consumption may help to reduce blood pressure

Last week I wrote about garlic in relation to lowering blood pressure.  Today I wanted to mention potassium and blood pressure.

Firstly I wanted to write a little more about the problem of high blood pressure (hypertension) in the Western world.  For purposes of illustration I am using statistics(1) for England derived from the [...]

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