Eating flaxseed may help lower blood pressure in people with hypertension.
In a study, people who added 30 grams of milled flaxseed to their diet every day for six months saw their systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) drop an average 15 mm Hg and their diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) an average 8 mm Hg.
By comparison, people who got a “dummy” supplement called a placebo had slightly increased systolic blood pressure while diastolic pressure remained steady.
The researchers said the level of blood pressure decrease from adding flaxseed could result in 50 percent less strokes and 30 percent less heart attacks.
Related Information:
- Visit the American Heart Association’s Nutrition Center for more about eating healthy.
