Fruit juice helps lower blood pressure says expert

Fruit juice could reduce the risk of high blood pressure (BP) if taken regularly, a health and fitness consultant, Dr. Bisi Abiola, has said. The fitness coach said drinking a glass of fruit juice gives an individual the opportunity to get at least eight per cent of daily potassium, which neutralises sodium and helps to […]

Fruit juice could reduce the risk of high blood pressure (BP) if taken regularly, a health and fitness consultant, Dr. Bisi Abiola, has said.

The fitness coach said drinking a glass of fruit juice gives an individual the opportunity to get at least eight per cent of daily potassium, which neutralises sodium and helps to lower blood pressure.

Dr. Abiola stated this during a healthy living dialogue, done with support from Chi Limited. The platform provides opportunity for experts to x-ray the benefits of 100% fruit juice.

She said that the overall amount of sodium and potassium in one’s diet affects one’s blood pressure.

She said: “Several researches have shown that consuming more potassium reduces blood pressure in people with hypertension; and this has huge benefit for consumers as long as they do not suffer from kidney disease.

“Most of us only get about half of the recommended dietary allowance for potassium. What many people do not know is that taking a glass of orange juice allows you to get at least eight per cent of your daily potassium.”

Dr Abiola said that medication was not the only way to control high BP, also known as hypertension, adding that lifestyle and diet also play an important role in managing the condition.

She said fruit juices from trustworthy brands produce bioflavonoids such as hesperidin which functions as an antioxidant and can help to lower cholesterol.

She said: “When healthy, reasonably overweight men drink orange juice daily for four weeks during the study, their diastolic blood pressure went down.

The researchers who were searching for hesperidin’s role concluded that the bioflavonoid was probably linked to the beneficial effects. Another study confirmed that regular consumption of hesperidin helps to prevent hypertension.”

Dr Abiola also reiterated that B vitamin folate from fruit juice also helps to prevent hypertension. In her view, individuals who consumed folate from their early adult age are at a lower risk of high blood pressure in later in life.

“A number of reputable authors have concluded that 100% fruit juice or whole fruit is not significantly associated with increased risk of hypertension or diabetes. Evidence indicates a modest but consistent reduction in blood pressure with 100% fruit juice,” she said.