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High blood pressure is recognised as a major risk factor for stroke, coronary heart disease and early death. Studies have shown that blood pressure is affected by diet and that diets rich in fruit and vegetables are inversely associated with raised blood pressure.
Unlike most previous studies this one looked at young adults and the long term affect of diet on the risk of developing high blood pressure.
Participants were aged 18-30 years and their dietary intake and blood pressured were evaluated at the start and after 7 and 15 years.
The study confirmed that plant foods such as whole grains, fruit and nuts were inversely associated with raised blood pressure, whereas consumption of red and processed meat was directly associated with hypertension. Detailed analysis of the results showed that the consumption of red meat at levels greater than 1-2 times a day was associated with a 20-40% higher risk of developing raised blood pressure than eating meat less than 0.6 times a day.
The research also found that eating eggs 1-3 times a week was also protective and was associated with an 11-21% lower risk. The mechanism whereby plants exert this protective effect is not yet understood, but it is suggested that it is due to the rich variety of nutrients contained in them.
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