World Hypertension Day, observed on May 17, carries the theme "Measure, Control, Live Longer." To help manage high blood pressure, a recent international study suggests incorporating tea and dark chocolate into the diet, as both may offer benefits comparable to those of prescribed medications.
اضافة اعلان
In this study, researchers analyzed 145 clinical trials involving over 5,000 participants and found that foods rich in compounds called flavan-3-ols can significantly lower blood pressure—often to a degree similar to conventional hypertension medications.
Among individuals with high blood pressure, daily consumption of these foods resulted in a reduction of about 6 mmHg in both systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure, which is a change typically seen with standard drug treatments.
According to Study Finds, the most notable reductions were observed in participants with elevated blood pressure.
Flavan-3-ols are naturally present in foods like dark chocolate, tea, apples, and grapes.
Improved Arterial Function
The benefits weren’t limited to blood pressure alone. These flavanol-rich foods also improved vascular function, measured through a test called flow-mediated dilation, which assesses how well arteries expand when blood flows through them.
This effect was seen regardless of changes in blood pressure, suggesting that flavan-3-ols may provide cardiovascular protection beyond simply lowering blood pressure numbers.
The research team included scientists from the University of Surrey, the University of Arkansas, King’s College London, and the Unilever Food Innovation Center in the Netherlands.
