It was recently announced by WebMD that the presence of high fructose corn syrup in the soft drinks can actually increase your blood pressure. This can happen even if you are otherwise healthy. This is according to a new study by the University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center in Aurora, Colorado.
Diana Jalal, MD a researcher said “High fructose intake is linked to high blood pressure,”.
So how much soda does it take to cause high blood pressure? Jalal says it takes only two and half sugary soft drinks a day to elevate blood pressure!
The study examined 4,528 adults, all age 18 or older, who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2003 and 2006. None of the participants had a history of high blood pressure. Participants were surveyed about diet, and fructose intake was estimated based on answers about consumption of soft drinks, fruit juices, candy, and other types of foods. The researchers did not include the natural fructose from fruits in this study. Natural fructose is not harmful because other substances (like antioxidants) in whole fruits counteract any harmful effects. The study found that the median fructose intake was 74 grams per day – approximately 2.5 sugary soft drinks a day.
The researchers found the link between high blood pressure and high fructose intake even though they varied the factors like age, level of activity, intake of calorie ans salt. The trial participants who are given 74 grams of fructose or more responded with 36 higher risk of having high blood pressure.
“Nitric oxide relaxes the vessel and is supposed to lower pressure. Fructose reduces the production of nitric oxide and makes it difficult for the vessels to relax and dilate. We know that fructose has the potential to reduce nitric oxide production within the blood vessels.” This is as explained by Jalal, MD
Frutose can also raise blood pressure by raising uric acid in the blood, which tells kidneys to eliminate less salt.
Maureen Storey from the American Beverage Association commented, “It’s important to remember that this is an abstract presented at a scientific meeting. It is not a published, peer-reviewed paper where the study, the data and the results and conclusions have undergone the rigors of peer review. There is nothing unique about soft drinks and/or high fructose corn syrup when it comes to risk for high pressure.”
Fruits naturally contains fructose. Fructose products such as high fructose corn syrup does carry a health problem as suggested from different studies even though the beverage association comment otherwise. And a latest research has found that the samples tested on high fructose corn syrup contains substance of mercury.
Most of these foods including soft drinking just brings in empty calories. You will see immediate benefits once you stop drinking soft drinks. IF you are an addict for soft drinks then you can search for soft drinks that is still made with natural sugar to avoid intake of fructose corn syrup. Even though the research is still ongoing at present the best thing to do is to avoid refined fructose altogether to reduce the risk of getting high blood pressure. In this case the products you need to avoid are soft drinks, fruit juices, baked goods, and candies.
Regular exercise reduce the risk of getting high blood pressure considerably. One should consider exercise as a medicine it need not be heavy and rigorous. You can opt for simple and easy exercise. It is advised to avoid all foods that are artificial and processed. You can adopt to natural foods, and try to follow diet that contains loads of fruits and vegetables.
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