There's Evidence This Fruit Juice May Help If You Have High Blood Pressure

If you've been diagnosed with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, this means that "the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is consistently too high" (via American Heart Association (AHA). Blood pressure is made up of two forces: Systolic pressure is the blood pumping out of the heart and into your arteries; diastolic pressure is the rest time between heartbeats. You need healthy blood pressure levels so that blood can circulate throughout your body and provide oxygen so your system can function properly.

If your blood pressure is too high on a consistent basis, this could damage your arteries because they are forced to work harder to circulate blood. If plaque forms in those arteries, it narrows the pathways for blood to flow, and can lead to serious health conditions, such as a heart attack or stroke (via AHA).

It is not always easy to detect if you have high blood pressure. According to the Mayo Clinic, even if you have high readings, you still may not feel any different. Signs and symptoms of high blood pressure may include headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds. However, these symptoms are general things to look for, and also would likely only appear if your condition was at a severely-advanced stage.

If you have high blood pressure and you like drinking orange juice — you're in luck. A study published in 2020 by the European Journal of Nutrition revealed that two daily servings of orange juice lowered the blood pressure of participants with mild hypertension in 12 weeks. The researchers identified the flavonoid hesperadin as the cause of these results. Flavonoids are natural chemicals that have antioxidant properties and are found in certain plants. Flavonoids are known to protect against damage caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that occur naturally in the body. They can also emerge from toxins in the environment, such as cigarette smoke and air pollution, that can also expose the body to free radicals.

"What's especially exciting about this study is it helped to identify that hesperidin, a powerful plant compound found primarily in citrus fruits, may be a key contributor to orange juice's blood pressure benefits," Gail Rampersaud, RDN, a nutritionist from the Florida Department of Citrus, told Verywell Health.

If orange juice isn't your thing, the experts at Healthline suggest other juices that may have an effect on lowering blood pressure. One of these is tomato juice. A 2019 study revealed that drinking one serving a day could provide benefits for your heart. Although, be sure to find a sodium-free brand. Beet juice may also have a beneficial effect on blood pressure, as well as pomegranate juice with no added sugar.

The beauty of these juices is that they may not only help lower your blood pressure but are also packed with key nutrients that will do your body good.