Cranberry Juice May Help Lower Blood Pressure

Drinking low-calorie cranberry juice regularly could benefit your heart by naturally reducing blood pressure, according to new American research.

In the study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 56 healthy participants were placed on a controlled diet for eight weeks during which time they either drank low-calorie cranberry juice or a placebo beverage with matching color, flavor, calories, sugar, and vitamin C.

Lead researcher Janet Novotny explained in an email that the results of other studies have been inconsistent, perhaps partly because the participants’ diets were not controlled.

“Previous studies investigating the effects of cranberry juice on risk factors for cardiovascular disease have been inconclusive or seemingly contradictory, with some studies suggesting benefit and some studies suggesting no effect,” Novotny said.

“We conducted our study as a double blind, placebo controlled study with a controlled diet to reduce variability and remove the possibility of bias.”

Partipants’ blood pressures were measured at the start, middle, and finish of the study. Those who drank the juice showed a significant blood pressure drop from 121/73 mmHg to 118/70 mmHg on average, whereas there was no change in the placebo group.

Cranberry juice contains a lot of antioxidants, similar to those found in other foods like fruit and tea, which have been associated with lower blood pressure in other studies.

Novotny thinks regular cranberry juice is probably also beneficial, although further research would be required to test this.

“Cranberry juice is rich in phenolic compounds, whether sweetened with sugar or with an artificial sweetener, therefore I would expect regular cranberry juice and low calorie cranberry juice to convey similar health benefits,” she said.

The results were presented at the American Heart Association’s High Blood Pressure Research 2012 Scientific Sessions on Sept. 20.

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