Cranberry Juice May Lower Blood Pressure

A study, led by Dr. Janet Novotny of the U.S. Department of Agruculture in Beltsville, Maryland, and funded by Ocean Spray Cranberries suggests that drinking cranberry juice regularly may reduce blood pressure. The study found that after eight weeks, blood pressure levels dropped from an average of 121/73 mmHg to 118/70 mmHg for those participants who drank a glass of low-calorie cranberry juice daily. Cranberry juice is rich in antioxidants – naturally occurring molecules in fruit, wine, tea and other foods, which have been previously associated with lower blood pressure in studies. Novotny suggested, because cranberry juice is tart, and is often sweetened, you may want to drink low-calorie cranberry juice, or consume less of something else, so the extra calories don’t add extra weight. These findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s High Blood Pressure Research Scientific Sessions in Washington….. UPI.com  9/20/12