Cherries would be effective in reducing hypertension, according to the results of a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Cherries contain many phenolic acids which may improve endothelial function (hold blood inside blood vessels) and reduce the risk of cardiovascular illnesses.
Researchers from the University of Northumbria (United States) carried out a study with 15 men, whose blood pressure they measured. All 15 participants showed early signs ofarterial hypertension.
Half of the group consumed a juice composed of Morello cherries from Montmorency (a concentrate of 60ml and 100ml of water). The control group drank a placebo, fruit-flavored drink. After three hours, the scientists again took the blood pressure of the volunteers.
The results of this study showed that men who drank cherry juice saw their blood pressure decrease by 7%, just three hours after consumption.
In conclusion, scientists also said that cherry juice also reduced the risk of developing cerebrovascular accident 38% and 23% to experience a myocardial infarction. “These effects are comparable to those obtained with antihypertensive drugs,” said Professor Karen Keane, lead author of the study. Researchers attribute the health effects of cherry juice to the fruit’s many phenolic acids.
Cherries, a healthy fruit?
This new study therefore provides new health benefits of cherries that were known to be effective for reduce gout attacks and like natural sleeping pill.
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