01

a new study has found that cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, kale and cabbage can help lower blood pressure and bring significant heart health benefits to middle-aged and older people. the study, published in the latest issue of bmc medicine, provides new clues for finding natural ways to reduce high blood pressure.

high blood pressure, which is high blood pressure in your blood vessels (140/90 mmhg or higher), is a major risk factor for heart disease.heart diseaseit is becoming more and more common. according to statistics, there are about 1.28 billion adults aged 30 to 79 suffering fromhypertension, two-thirds of whom live in low- and middle-income countries. hypertension has a huge impact on public health, so finding effective interventions is crucial.

02

researchers at east carolina university conducted a six-week study in which participants alternated between eating four servings of cruciferous vegetables and root vegetables and squash vegetables for two weeks each, followed by a two-week break. the study found that participants who ate two weeks of cruciferous vegetables (including broccoli and cauliflower) had a significantly lower risk of developing heart disease than those who ate only root and squash vegetables.kale) had a significant decrease in blood pressure.

the researchers believe this effect may be linked to compounds in cruciferous vegetables called glucosinolates. this compound has previously been shown to lower blood pressure in animals, and now this study confirms similar results in humans. glucosinolates in cruciferous vegetables play an important role in lowering blood pressure, along with other beneficial nutrients such as nitrates and vitamin k.

emma connolly, phd student at east carolina university, stressed the importance of increasing vegetable intake to reduce heart disease risk. she noted that cruciferous vegetables are among the least consumed vegetables, which means many people miss out on their unique benefits. if people can increase their intake of these vegetables, they will get a greater "bang for their buck" in terms of lowering blood pressure and reducing heart disease risk.

the results showed that eating cruciferous vegetables was associated with a 2.5 mmhg lower blood pressure compared to root vegetables and squash vegetables. this drop in blood pressure can reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke by about 5%. therefore, people are encouraged to eat a variety of vegetables every day as part of a heart-healthy diet, and adding cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and kale, can make a big difference.

03

based on the findings of this study, it is clear that incorporating more cruciferous vegetables into your daily diet can improve heart health and lower blood pressure. this study provides a simple and effective dietary recommendation for people with high blood pressure to help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system by increasing their intake of cruciferous vegetables. future research will continue to explore more about the potential benefits of cruciferous vegetables on heart health and provide more guidance for public health.

refer to

Connolly EL, Liu AH, Radavelli-Bagatini S, et al. Cruciferous vegetables lower blood pressure in adults with mildly elevated blood pressure in a randomized, controlled, crossover trial: the VEgetableS for vaScular hEaLth (VESSEL) study. BMC Med. 2024;22(1):353. Published 2024 Sep 2. doi:10.1186/s12916-024-03577-8