We all know that fruits have lots of benefits for our health. Fruits can be used to prevent obesity, maintain normal body weight, and reduce the risks of several chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and hypertension. Fruits also have lots of nutrients that are very good for the body.

Recently, many researchers in the health sector have been attracted to one of the polyphenol compounds known as resveratrol. You can find these compounds in several types of fruits such as blueberries, red grapes, red wine, and some types of beans. In several studies, resveratrol was found to be able to reduce the death rate of neurons, which prevent the occurrence of cancer.

According to a recent study conducted by King's College London, resveratrol can help reduce high blood pressure, both in mice and human cells. Some experts believe that this is due to the antioxidant properties in resveratol. However, according to research published in the Circulation journal, this occurs because resveratrol can trigger the occurrence of protein oxidation during oxidative stress, causing blood vessels to relax.

In their study, the researchers analysed one group of wild rats induced by high blood pressure. Some of them are given foods that contain resveratrol and others undergo a normal diet. To find out their blood pressure, each mouse was planted with a telemetry probe for 15 days. The results showed that those who consume resveratrol have a drop in their blood pressure of around 20mmHg. This is also found in human cells, except that the composition of resveratrol needed is much higher.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Pixabay

Source(s):

• Burgoyne, J.R., Prysyazhna, O., Wolhuter, K., et all (2019). Blood Pressure-Lowering by the Antioxidant Resveratrol is Counterintuitively Mediated by Oxidation of cGMP-Dependent Protein Kinase. Circulation, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.037398.
• Medical News Today - How to compound fruit may lower blood pressure (2019). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325282.php, June 10, 2019.