Eating Berries, Especially Blueberries, Can Protect Against High Blood Pressure

A research study conducted jointly by the University of East Anglia and Harvard University concludes that eating blueberries can prevent high blood pressure. The agents responsible for this effect are called anthocyanins, part of the flavonoid family—compounds found in many commonly-eaten foods, and already known to protect against heart disease. This study—the first of its kind to examine the effect of flavonoids on high blood pressure (or hypertension)—followed more than 150,000 subjects over 14 years—none of whom had hypertension at the beginning of the study. Participants who ate at least one serving of blueberries per week showed a 10 percent reduction in their risk of developing high blood pressure.