Vegetarian Diet lowers blood pressure

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VEGETARIAN DIETLOWERS BLOOD PRESSUREACCORDING TO SCIENTIFIC REVIEWA new

scientific review shows that high blood pressure can be reduced with diet

changes, especially a vegetarian diet. The new report analyzes the results of

published studies and concludes that vegetarian populations have lower rates of

hypertension, “the silent killer.” This report, authored by nutritionist Susan

E. Berkow, Ph.D., C.N.S., and Neal D. Barnard, M.D., is the lead article in the

January issue of the peer-reviewed journal Nutrition Reviews.Included in the

analysis are studies published in top journals such as The Lancet and The

Journal of the American Medical Association. In addition to the population

trends, these studies show that individual patients also experience the blood

pressure-lowering effect of a vegetarian diet.Vegetarians tend to be slimmer, on

average, and that is one reason their blood pressure is often in the healthy

range. Other mechanisms include vegetarians’ higher intake of potassium as well

as the tendency of plant-based foods to modulate blood viscosity. As blood

pressure is lowered, vegetarian populations experience a reduced risk of stroke,

heart attack, and kidney failureMany people fear the side effects of blood

pressure-lowering drugs, along with the expense. Our analysis of 80 scientific

studies suggests that a vegetarian diet may be a simple, drug-free treatment for

the ‘silent killer,’ says Dr. Berkow, lead author of the study. My advice to

people at risk for hypertension is to substitute a veggie burger for a hamburger

tonight and have pasta marinara without the meatballs tomorrow. After about six

weeks of such simple changes you might see your blood pressure and your body

weight begin to drop. Because high blood pressure is dangerous, the researchers

caution that individuals should see their doctors and assess whether diet alone

is sufficient, or whether drugs are also needed.Drs. Berkow and Barnard

summarized their findings in the article this way:Randomized clinical trials

have shown that BP [blood pressure] is lowered when animal products are replaced

with vegetable products in both normotensives and hypertensives . The beneficial

expected consequences of a reduction in BP include a reduction in major coronary

events. Vegetarians have been shown to have a lower incidence of coronary heart

disease, ischemic heart disease and a reduced risk of ischemic heart

disease-related death compared to non-vegetarians.