Eat more veggies, less red meat to keep BP in check
Fri Dec 16, 2005 5:38 PM GMT
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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Consumption of vegetables, fruits, and other plant foods seems to reduce the risk of elevated blood pressure, whereas intake of meat raises the risk, according to a report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition for December.

Several reports have shown similar associations, but few studies have specifically addressed this topic in young adults, lead author Dr. Lyn M. Steffen, from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and colleagues note.

They evaluated the 15-year incidence of elevated blood pressure -- defined as BP of at least 130 over 85 or use of a BP lowering agent -- in 4300 subjects, comprising roughly equal numbers of black and white men and women, between 18 and 30 years of age at baseline. Dietary assessments were conducted at enrollment and at 15 years into the study.

As plant food intake rose, the risk of elevated blood pressure fell, the report indicates. Relative to the lowest quintile of intake, the second through fifth quintiles of intake cut the risk from 27% to 36%, respectively.

Just the opposite trend was seen with meat intake, whereas dairy consumption did not seem to have a consistent effect on blood pressure, the investigators found.

These results, the authors conclude, suggest that greater plant food intakes and lower meat intakes as part of a habitual diet may prevent the development of high blood pressure, a major risk factors for heart disease.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, December 2005.

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/new...&archived=False

Just when you think we are making progress .... a story like this comes out. What a crock of %#^$~.

As someone that was on blood pressure medication ... I stopped eating veggies and increased my consumption of red meat by about 10 times. My blood pressure is now normal, without medication, for the first time in my life.

I should also add that I do take supplements that I credit for about 1/2 of the success.

k

Which supplements?

I find the supplement recomendations confusing. For one thing, there seem to be an unlimited number of supplements out there, each with their own proponents. Hard to know if any are really helpful or necessary...

I did use potassium when I started induction, and it seemed to prevent leg cramps. Haven't used it for 2 years, though.

As usual, the study categorizes salty processed meats, such as bologna and hot dogs, as "red meat".

study abstract

.
I'm curious as to the fatty acid profile of the processed meat eaters. Previous epidemiological studies of this nature tend to show processed meat eaters also consume more margarine and snack foods made with partially hydrogenated oils.

Yet another piece of junk science, sensationalized by the media .


Doreen

Regarding the posted article...

Well, Shrek says it best, "what a load of crap!"

Pass the beef and don't spare the prions!!!

I am Atkins tattooed so he said take supplements when doing his diet -- so I did it. I have learned a lot since then.

I recommend taking the best "mega" multivitamin that you can afford. Not the cheap one-a-day / Synergy type -- the good ones.

Then take Fish Oil or Omega 3s.

If you need help controlling cravings or losing weight -- next choice is chromium.

Then antioxidants, then if over age of 40, hormone stuff.

I guess I should have posted more links sooner.

http://www.vitacost.com/store/produ...earchBy=HL&ss=1

Good analysis, doreen. In some people processed meats will make their blood pressure skyrocket, because 10% or so of people are sensitive to salt, and process meats are loaded with it.

They seem to be lumping fruits and vegetables together, too. I don't think people should be eating bananas all day, thinking it'll lower their BP. Avocadoes, on the other hand...

here's the problem:they adjusted for caloric intake, but it doesn't appear that they adjusted for carbohydrate intake, which makes the analysis entirely worthless.

"Quote: Plant food intake (whole grains, refined grains, fruit, vegetables, nuts, or legumes) was inversely related to EBP after adjustment for age, sex, race, center, energy intake, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and other potential confounding factors."

They kept adjusting and adjusting, until they got the data to come out like they wanted.

Refined grains? Why do they list these before vegetables? They're telling us that a big helping of pasta or white bread is better for us than a grass-fed beef steak????