Science

Fiber protects from a hypertension

Researchers tallied the results of 25 studies on the effects of dietary fiber on blood pressure and found that a high-fiber diet was associated with a significant reduction in blood pressure levels among people with high blood pressure or hypertension. Nearly 50 million Americans and 1 billion people worldwide have high blood pressure. Aside from treatment with blood pressure-lowering medications, several other lifestyle and dietary modifications have already been shown to help keep blood pressure levels under control, including weight loss, reduced sodium intake, moderation in alcohol use, increased potassium intake, increased physical activity, and following the DASH (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) diet. Although other dietary changes have been suggested for blood pressure control, researchers say there hasn't been enough evidence to recommend their use to the public. Researchers say their findings represent the first comprehensive report of the effect of increasing dietary fiber on blood pressure and warrant additional studies in larger groups of people on the long-term effects of dietary fiber on blood pressure.