Blueberries May Lower Blood Pressure

Evan Watson, NatureCity author & contributor

Wild blueberries have been recently declared the most antioxidant packed common fruit on the market. Now, a recent study shows they may improve blood vessel health and lower blood pressure.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Maine, Northwestern University, and the University of Louisville and the results were published in the November 2010 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

For the study, hypertensive rats were fed a wild blueberry diet (8% of total consumption was blueberries) or a control diet for eight weeks.

After eight weeks the rats were given a compound that restricts blood vessels. When the researchers compared the control group to the group given the blueberries they found significantly less restriction in blood flow among the rats in the blueberry group.

Although this study was done in a lab, the researchers are confident that similar findings will be replicable in human studies.

There are numerous other reasons to eat more blueberries apart from their potential for improving blood vessel function and lowering blood pressure. Blueberries have been shown to decrease the risk of dementia, aid in weight management and reduce cholesterol.

They are also easy to add to your diet because they go well with pancakes, salads and smoothies.