Fruits, Vegetables Lower Your Body's Acid Levels, Boosting Health
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.
By Angelina Livigni HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Aug. 12, 2024 -- An apple a day, along with a healthy serving of vegetables, could become a first line of treatment for hypertension, new research suggests.
Diet plays a large role in overall health, and the study confirmed that a diet high in fruits and vegetables lowers blood pressure while improving both heart and kidney health. And although most modern diets include animal products, which produce high levels of unhealthy acid in the body, fruits and vegetables can help neutralize that acid.
“It's important for us to remember that the usual diets that we eat in modern societies contain much more animal products like meats than fruits and vegetables,” said lead study author Dr. Donald Wesson, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas at Austin's Medical School. “So, when we eat a diet like we do in modern societies, more animal products like meat than fruits and vegetables, we have an acid-producing diet.”
In the study, published Aug. 6 in the American Journal of Medicine, 153 patients with primary hypertension who also had very high levels of blood acid were divided into three groups: those who added 2 to 4 cups of fruits and vegetables to their daily diet; those who took sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) tablets; or those who received standard blood pressure treatment and medications. The patients were followed for five years.
What did the researchers find? Both the patients who ate more fruits and vegetables or took baking soda tablets had improved kidney health. However, only the high fruit and vegetable diet improved both kidney health and heart health.
“That's why our conclusion from the study is that diets high in fruits and vegetables should be foundational,” Wesson said. “That should be the baseline, the first thing that we do in treating individuals with high blood pressure. So, our thought is we should start with diet and then add medication as necessary.”
Fruits such as apples, oranges, peaches and raisins were provided to patients in the study. Vegetables including carrots, cauliflower, eggplant and lettuce were also given to participants. It was found that raisins were the most effective at neutralizing acid in the body.
People who don't have access to fresh fruits and veggies should probably not turn to baking soda tablets instead, Wesson said.
“I would not suggest that you take those sodium bicarbonate or baking soda type pills on your own. But if you think that you can be benefited by taking those baking soda-like tablets, I would talk with your physician first before doing it on your own,” he advised.
Adding more fruits and vegetables may seem like a daunting task to some, so Amy Kimberlain, a nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offered some advice.
“I always tell patients that fruits and vegetables while they provide fiber, they also can provide flavor,” Kimberlain said. “Eat the ones they enjoy [don’t eat something you don’t like], but also experiment with different ways of preparing the fruits and vegetables. If you don’t like raw carrots, try them cooked. Like beets, if you don’t love them as is, maybe add them to a hummus and now have a flavored hummus. Experiment, get creative and keep trying!”
Kimberlain offered some additional tips to make this transition in your diet easier:
Sources
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
Source: HealthDay
Posted : 2024-08-12 23:15
Read more
- Transitioning to E-Cigarettes Aids Resolution of Respiratory Symptoms
- FDA Approves Hympavzi for Hemophilia
- Blood Test Might Spot Women in Labor at Risk for Preeclampsia
- The Right Time is Now to Get Your Flu Vaccine
- Depression Rates on the Rise for Sexual, Gender Minority College Students
- NIH and FDA Leaders Call for Innovation in Development of Smoking Cessation Treatments
Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.
The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Popular Keywords
- metformin obat apa
- alahan panjang
- glimepiride obat apa
- takikardia adalah
- erau ernie
- pradiabetes
- besar88
- atrofi adalah
- kutu anjing
- trakeostomi
- mayzent pi
- enbrel auto injector not working
- enbrel interactions
- lenvima life expectancy
- leqvio pi
- what is lenvima
- lenvima pi
- empagliflozin-linagliptin
- encourage foundation for enbrel
- qulipta drug interactions