The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition stated in a recent study that eating lots of whole grains could help lower blood pressure.
It was shown that men consuming the highest amount of whole-grains were 19% less likely to develop high blood pressure compared to men who ate the least amount of whole grains.
Also, studies from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston showed that whole grains retain their bran and germ so they are richer in nutrients than refined grains that have their outer coating removed.
The most recent US guidelines recommend that people get at least 3 ounces, or 85 grams, of whole grains daily, and that they consume at least half of their grains as whole grains.
A follow-up study by the Health Professionals followed 51,529 men since 1986, when the study participants were 40 to 75 years old. They looked at a subset of 31,684 men free of hypertension, cancer, stroke or heart disease at the study’s outset. During 18 years of follow-up, 9,227 of them developed hypertension.
Men in the top portion of the group who consumed 52 grams of whole grains daily, were about 19% less likely to develop hypertension than the lower portion of the group who consumed only about 3 grams of whole grains daily.
Even though it was taken into account that the men were eating fruits, vegetables, exercising and using vitamins, the study confirmed that there is a relationship between whole grains consumed and hypertension risk.
Considering the healthy lifestyle pattern, the researchers say it is possible that the men who consumed more whole grains, simply gained less weight. This shows that diets and how they affect our health (i.e., hypertension) have definite significance and should be taken seriously.
