Red Fruit Fix for Hypertension!
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted January 27, 2024
Concerned about your blood pressure?
Forget that apple-a-day stuff!
It turns out that another fruit (or is it a vegetable?) might be JUST what the doctor ordered for hypertension.
Tomatoes are technically a fruit.
But they’re considered vegetables by nutritionists. And, according to new research, they could be the solution to keeping your blood pressure in check.
A study published last month in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology concluded that making tomatoes and tomato-based products a regular part of your diet can help prevent high blood pressure and maintain normal blood pressure if yours isn’t yet on the rise.
The study focused on over 7,000 adults and categorized their tomato consumption into four groups based on serving size:
- Lowest (ate less than 44 grams of tomatoes daily)
- Intermediate (44–82 grams daily)
- Upper-intermediate (82–110 grams daily)
- Highest (more than 110 grams daily)
The study participants eating the MOST tomatoes had a 36 percent DECREASED risk of developing high blood pressure compared to those with the lowest intake.
This is fantastic news because tomatoes are among the most widely available and affordable foods worldwide.
No expensive medications or dangerous procedures are required. And no risky blood-pressure-drug side effects to contend with either.
So, why are tomatoes so good for you?
Researchers believe tomatoes’ blood-pressure-lowering benefits are the result of their high potassium and lycopene levels.
Potassium helps balance electrolyte levels, which influence blood pressure. Other potassium-rich foods include avocados, sweet potatoes, fish, potatoes, beans, bananas, and greens like Swiss chard.
Lycopene is a potent antioxidant carotenoid with numerous heart health benefits, including fighting inflammation and artery-clogging plaques.
Combining tomatoes with some of these OTHER high-potassium foods could keep your blood pressure in check.
So, go ahead and eat the apple. But try a tomato or two as well.
P.S. Need a bit more blood pressure support? This “Miracle Molecule” TARGETS hypertension.
Source:
David Murcia-Lesmes, et al., “Association between tomato consumption and blood pressure in an older population at high cardiovascular risk: observational analysis of PREDIMED trial,” European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2023;, zwad363, doi. org/ 10.1093 /eurjpc /zwad363
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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