How Eating Apples Can Help Your Blood Pressure
Apples are known to support “better heart health,” partly because their nutrients may help lower blood pressure.
According to Dr. John Higgins, a cardiologist at UTHealth Houston, “Apples are particularly rich in flavonoids, including quercetin and proanthocyanidins, as well as phenolic acids and dietary fiber. These compounds may support cardiovascular health through multiple mechanisms.”
Five Ways Apples Affect Your Blood Pressure
- Flavonoids Help Your Blood Vessels Relax: The flavonoids found in apples “signal your blood vessels to widen slightly,” which makes it easier for blood to flow, Higgins said.
- Polyphenols Calm Inflammation: The antioxidants called polyphenols are “natural anti-inflammatories.” Registered dietitian Cassandra Lepore explained that this reduced inflammation means “less stress on your arteries over time.”
- Antioxidants Act Like Shields Against Cell Damage: Higgins noted that the antioxidants in apples protect your blood vessels from the “everyday wear and tear caused by unstable molecules in the body.”
- Fiber Supports Healthier Arteries: Lepore stated that the “soluble fiber” in apples helps lower cholesterol and “keep your arteries flexible,” which are “two factors that support better long-term blood pressure control.”
- These Compounds All Work Together: A review found that eating whole apples—approximately “one medium apple a day”—is linked with “modest improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, inflammation, and blood vessel function,” which helps lower “heart disease and stroke risks.”
Taken together, these effects do not necessarily lead to an immediate drop in blood pressure readings, but they do create a healthier environment for your heart and blood vessels over the long run.
Join Informant Online WhatsApp Channel With Link Below: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2
To Publish Articles, News, Place Advert, Contact Informant Online With Email Link Below: informantonline.com.ng@gmail.com
