High blood pressure is a prevalent condition that can lead to severe health complications like heart disease and stroke.
A recent study from Shifa College of Medicine suggests that prunes may play a role in controlling high blood pressure, potentially offering protective effects for heart health.
Prunes: Nutritional Powerhouses
Prunes are dried plums, free from added sugar, and rich in vitamins and antioxidants. They contain vitamin B6, manganese, and copper, all of which support the normal release of energy from foods.
Previous research has shown that fruits and vegetables can help reduce blood pressure, not just because of their antioxidant content, but also due to other health benefits they offer.
The Study
In this study, researchers aimed to examine the protective effects of prunes on heart health.
They conducted tests on 259 people with systolic blood pressures (BP) between 120-139 mmHg and diastolic BP between 80-89 mmHg.
Participants were divided into two treatment groups and a control group.
The treatment groups either drank prune juice and ate whole dried plums (either 3 or 6 prunes daily), while the control group only consumed a glass of plain water every morning on an empty stomach.
Findings
The researchers found that there was a significant reduction in blood pressure in the participants who took a single dose of prunes (3 prunes) every day.
With the double dose of prunes (6 prunes), only systolic BP was strongly reduced.
Interestingly, the control group experienced a significant increase in HDL (“good” cholesterol) in the blood, whereas the test groups had strongly reduced cholesterol and LDL (“bad” cholesterol).
High levels of HDL cholesterol can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, while high levels of LDL cholesterol raise your risk for these conditions.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that eating prunes could help control high blood pressure, providing potential protective effects on heart health.
Further research is required to confirm these results and explore the mechanisms behind the blood pressure-lowering effects of prunes.
The research, conducted by Talat Ahmed and his team, is a compelling addition to the body of evidence supporting the heart health benefits of incorporating fruits like prunes into the diet.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about the best time to take high blood pressure drugs, and scientists find new way to treat high blood pressure.
For more information about health, please see recent studies that Beetroot juice could help lower high blood pressure, and results showing this common plant nutrient could help reduce high blood pressure.
The research is published in the Journal of Ayub Medical College and was conducted by Talat Ahmed et al.
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