Can Eating Whole Grain Breakfast Cereal Reduce Risk Of High Blood Pressure?

Online, March 22, 2011 (Newswire.com) - A recent study suggests one bowl of whole grain breakfast cereal a day could lower a person's risk of developing high blood pressure.

Dr. Jinesh Kochar, fellow in geriatric medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and his team of researchers found a 20 percent decreased risk of hypertension in individuals who consumed whole grain breakfast cereals at least seven times per week. "Physical activity along with consumption of whole grains can lower the risk of hypertension," Kochar told AOL Health.

During this study, Kochar and his team analyzed data from 13,368 male doctors ranging in age from 39 to 85 who participated in the Physicians Health Study, a landmark study which began in 1982 to examine the benefits and risks of aspirin and beta carotene in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. None of the individuals suffered from high blood pressure at the beginning of the study; however, after a 16 year follow up, 7,267 men developed hypertension.

After adjusting for age, cigarette smoking, body mass index (BMI), history of type two diabetes, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and alcohol consumption, researchers found men who consumed no whole grain cereal had a 35.4 increased risk of high blood pressure as opposed to those who consumed seven or more servings of whole grain cereal per week. The latter group had a 28.7 percent risk of suffering from hypertension. Experts reported individuals who ate up to one bowl of cereal per week had a risk rate of 32.9 percent, and men consuming two to six servings had a 30.7 percent risk rate.

"I think there's growing evidence that whole grains and its constituents, like fiber, magnesium, and potassium, confer a variety of benefits on the heart, blood vessels, and glucose metabolism in the body," Kochar says. "Whole grain consumption along with other healthy lifestyle behaviors, like limiting sodium intake, moderation in calorie consumption, and regular physical activity may lower the risk of developing hypertension."

Dr. Carl Lavie, spokesperson for the American Academy of Cardiology, believes a few things done differently in the study may have yielded more accurate results. "I suspect that weight may be lower in those eating more cereal, which is why adjusting for BMI weakened the relationship," Lavie told AOL Health. But he agrees the study is on the right track. "It would seem that eating cereal with grains, whole wheat, and oats, would be a healthy thing to do, especially with fruit as opposed to adding processed sugar."

Lavie adds regular physical activity is always helpful in reducing weight, improving lipids, and reducing blood pressure.

High Blood Pressure Insider uses its online presence to encourage people to manage their high blood pressure through a healthy lifestyle and enjoy the many benefits of a healthy heart. It supports the view that eating a wholegrain cereal as part of a healthy lifestyle can help reduce blood pressure levels.

If you're concerned about your health and would like to learn how a healthy lifestyle can help to control cholesterol and blood pressure levels without taking medication, then visit High Blood Pressure Insider at http://highbloodpressureinsider.org