New Weapon To Fight Hypertension: Watermelon
A pilot study conducted by researchers at Florida State Univeristy suggests watermelon can be effective against hypertension.
Evidence from a pilot study led by food scientists at The Florida State University (FSU) suggests that watermelon can be an effective natural weapon against prehypertension, a precursor to cardiovascular disease.
It is the first investigation of its kind in humans. FSU Assistant Professor Arturo Figueroa and Professor Bahram H. Arjmandi found that 6 grams of watermelon extract a day for six weeks increased aortic blood flow and consequently lowered blood pressure in all nine of their prehypertensive subjects (four men and five postmenopausal women, ages 51-57).
“We are the first to document improved aortic hemodynamics in prehypertensive but otherwise healthy middle-aged men and women on therapeutic doses of watermelon,” Figueroa said. “These findings suggest that this ‘functional food’ has a vasodilatory effect, and one that may prevent prehypertension from progressing to full-blown hypertension, a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
“Given the encouraging evidence generated by this preliminary study, we hope to continue the research and include a much larger group of participants in the next round,” he said.
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Source: Florida State University News and Events
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