Published By: K.D Cameron

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Blueberries are a wonderful fruit which can help postmenopausal women to maintain their blood pressure within healthy limits, a recent survey published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reveals. A total of 48 women in menopause including women with pre- and stage 1-hypertension participated in the study. For a period of 8 weeks they were assigned to 22 g of blueberries daily. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, arterial stiffness and changes in nitric oxide levels, C-reactive protein and superoxide dismutase (an indicator for antioxidant activity) were measured during the trial.
After 8 weeks patients in the group taking blueberries had an average decrease of 5,1% in systolic blood pressure, a 6,3% drop in diastolic blood pressure and significant improvement of arterial stiffness. No changes were registered in the second group. Nitric oxide levels were significantly higher in the blueberry group after 8 weeks compared to baseline. Nitric oxide helps blood vessels relax and expand which facilitates blood passage through them.
The study authors make the following conclusion: “Daily blueberry consumption may reduce blood pressure and arterial stiffness, which may be due, in part, to increased nitric oxide production.”