Most of us are familiar with at least one fruit or vegetable with health benefits. If not, then it is time to understand that kiwifruits may help maintain blood pressure and decrease platelet accumulation, as claimed by professionals at the European Society of Hypertension.
Basically, these fruits contain antioxidants that are the torchbearers here. In the study, almost 100 volunteers were instructed to consume kiwifruits. There were 2 other groups that were fed antioxidant-rich diets and placebos, respectively. These participants were in the age-group of 45 to 75 years and smoked about 5 cigarettes every day.
“Thus kiwifruits, and possibly also antioxidant-rich foods, may have a potential role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Such a dietary approach may be particularly useful in postponing pharmacological treatment in individuals with high-normal BP or hypertension,” commented prof. Rune Blomhoff, MD (Dept. of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo; Norway) and other analysts.
While high blood pressure seemed to be controlled in those who consumed kiwifruits and antioxidant-rich foods, the former carried an added advantage. The kiwifruit eaters seemed to manifest about 15% decrease in platelet collection and 11% less active angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE).
Now many of us may not be aware that ACE activity is one of the prime causes of conditions like heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. Along the same lines, platelet aggregation generally results in creation of blood clots that could be fatal.
As far as the authors saw in the study mentioned in the journal of Human Hypertension, kiwifruits showed benefits in controlling blood pressure, heart disease and blood clots.