Diet Rich in Produce, Low-Fat Food Can Lower Blood Pressure, Study Finds

Eating fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods can quickly lower high blood pressure, researchers from Johns Hopkins University reported Wednesday at the American Heart Assn. meeting. The study found that a diet high in produce and low in fat gave people with high blood pressure reductions similar to those achieved through medication.

“It’s already known that three dietary factors--salt, body weight and alcohol--affect blood pressure, but our findings are important because they identify a fourth factor: the pattern of food we eat,” said Dr. Lawrence Appel of Johns Hopkins. Participants in the study ate a diet of nine to 10 daily servings of fruits and vegetables and three daily servings of low-fat dairy products. That is about double the amount of such foods in most Americans’ diets.