Cranberry and cherry juices highlighted for supporting healthy blood pressure

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Cranberry and cherry juices highlighted for supporting healthy blood pressure

1 min read

A study published in the European Journal of Nutrition has found that consuming cranberry juice or cherry juice could be a key dietary tool to promote healthy blood pressure.

The systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to find out how much of an effect consuming fruit (berries, citrus and cherries) had on cardiovascular disease risk factors. The authors reviewed data from 45 randomised controlled trials assessing blood vessel function, blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as markers of inflammation. All of the interventions lasted at least seven days, with an average of 8 weeks.

Eight studies reported improvements in blood vessel function, 14 studies reported improvements in levels of blood lipids and inflammatory markers, while 10 studies reported improvements in blood pressure.

When all types and forms of berries were analysed, cranberry juice and cherry juice came out on top for blood pressure improvements, with less of an effect for powdered or freeze-dried versions.

The authors concluded that drinking cranberry juice or cherry juice could contribute to improved blood pressure, giving us even more reason to enjoy these delicious antioxidant-rich drinks as part of our recommended daily fluid intake.

Reference

Wang et al. Effects of chronic consumption of specific fruit (berries, citrus and cherries) on CVD risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. European Journal of Nutrition (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-020-02299-w