In an interesting discovery, scientists from the University of Bonn have found something quite surprising about red onion skins.
They believe that an extract from these skins can help overweight and obese individuals lower their high blood pressure. This finding could be a game-changer for many people struggling with this common health issue.
Now, let’s dive a bit into what makes this work. The magic ingredient here is called quercetin. This is a natural substance found in plants. You can find it in lots of everyday foods like fruits, veggies, seeds, and grains.
Some familiar sources include capers, red onions, and kale. Quercetin isn’t just your average compound; it’s known for its slightly bitter taste and is often used in various health supplements, drinks, and foods.
So why is quercetin interesting? Previous research has hinted that it might be good for the heart, particularly because it can help lower high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
This is important because high blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart diseases.
The University of Bonn’s study focused on people who were overweight or obese and already showing signs of high blood pressure. The researchers wanted to see if quercetin really does help in reducing blood pressure. They conducted an experiment with 70 participants.
These individuals were either given a daily dose of 162 milligrams of quercetin from red onion skin extract or a placebo, which is basically a substance with no medicinal effect, for six weeks.
To measure the effects, the team checked the participants’ blood pressure both before and after this period using two methods: ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and regular office blood pressure measurements.
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is a way to measure blood pressure at regular intervals over 24 hours while people go about their daily lives.
The results were quite promising. In those with high blood pressure, the group that took quercetin showed a notable decrease in their blood pressure levels compared to those who took the placebo. This decrease was observed not just during the day but also at night.
However, it’s interesting to note that quercetin didn’t seem to affect other health markers like cholesterol levels, blood sugar, inflammation, or oxidative stress, which is a type of cellular damage.
This means that while quercetin seems good for lowering blood pressure, it doesn’t necessarily change other aspects of health in these individuals.
The conclusion from this study is pretty straightforward: taking a daily supplement of 162 mg of quercetin can effectively lower blood pressure in people who are at risk.
This suggests that quercetin could potentially be a natural way to protect the heart, especially for those dealing with hypertension.
For those who are concerned about high blood pressure, there are other studies worth checking out. For example, some research suggests that drinking tea or taking certain herbal supplements might also help lower blood pressure.
Additionally, there are studies linking added sugar in diets to higher blood pressure and others showing that vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
This particular study on quercetin and blood pressure was published in the British Journal of Nutrition and was led by Verena Brüll and her team.
It’s an exciting development in the field of natural health remedies and could offer a simple, natural way to manage a condition that affects millions of people worldwide.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about potatoes and high blood pressure, and top 10 choices for a blood pressure-friendly diet
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about impact of vitamins on high blood pressure you need to know, and the powerful link between high blood pressure and a potassium-rich diet.
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