Health and Me

Itisha Arya

Could This Popular Drink Really Help Lower Blood Pressure And Protect Your Heart?

orange juice blood pressure

A simple drink costing just 22p per serving could benefit your heart. Recent research suggests that <span>orange juice</span> may help reduce blood pressure and inflammation, which are two major risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

<h2>Cardiovascular Disease: A Growing Concern In The UK</h2>

Cardiovascular disease remains a leading health concern in the UK, responsible for roughly a quarter of all deaths each year. This umbrella term covers conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, and irregular heart rhythms.

While medications exist to manage these conditions, health authorities recommend lifestyle adjustments as well. Among these, dietary changes are crucial, particularly reducing foods high in saturated fats.

Orange Juice Shows Promise for Heart Health

New research from the University of São Paulo in Brazil, published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, has revealed that orange juice can influence genes linked to high blood pressure and inflammation. These are key contributors to heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure.

Inflammation can damage blood vessels, constrict arteries, and promote plaque buildup. Orange juice was also shown to enhance genes involved in fat metabolism, supporting better processing and storage of fats in the body.

Layanne Nascimento Fraga, the study’s lead author, told Medical News Today: “We used a transcriptomic approach to observe the effects of orange juice on the entire metabolic system, allowing us to see multiple pathways working together. We found improvements in key cardiometabolic markers, including blood pressure, inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism.”

The study identified 1,705 genes affected by orange juice, with 98% being downregulated, highlighting its broad impact on cardiovascular health.

<h2>Personalised Benefits and Nutrigenomics</h2>

The researchers noted that orange juice’s effects can vary based on an individual’s body weight. This provides insights for tailored dietary recommendations, particularly regarding flavonoid-rich foods like citrus. At the time of reporting, a litre of orange juice from Tesco cost 89p, making a 250ml serving roughly 22p.

<h2>Supporting Evidence from Other Studies</h2>

This is not the first time orange juice has been linked to heart health. A 2023 study in Lipids in Health and Disease found that consuming two glasses (480ml) daily for at least a year led to significantly lower cholesterol levels in participants aged 18–66.

A meta-analysis reviewing nine studies also suggested that orange juice may improve levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol, though effects on total cholesterol and “good” HDL cholesterol were not significant.

A 2021 study in the European Journal of Nutrition further showed that hesperidin-enriched orange juice could reduce systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure, offering a potential tool for managing pre- and stage-1 hypertension.

It is important to remember that orange juice contains roughly 24 grams of sugar per serving, which should be considered when incorporating it into a daily diet, especially for those monitoring sugar intake.

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A simple drink costing just 22p per serving could benefit your heart. Recent research suggests that orange juice may help reduce blood pressure and inflammation, which are two major risk factors for cardiovascular disease.Cardiovascular Disease: A Growing Concern In The UKCardiovascular disease remains a leading health concern in the UK, responsible for roughly a quarter of all deaths each year. This umbrella term covers conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, and irregular heart rhythms.While medications exist to manage these conditions, health authorities recommend lifestyle adjustments as well. Among these, dietary changes are crucial, particularly reducing foods high in saturated fats.Orange Juice Shows Promise for Heart HealthNew research from the University of São Paulo in Brazil, published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, has revealed that orange juice can influence genes linked to high blood pressure and inflammation. These are key contributors to heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure.Inflammation can damage blood vessels, constrict arteries, and promote plaque buildup. Orange juice was also shown to enhance genes involved in fat metabolism, supporting better processing and storage of fats in the body.Layanne Nascimento Fraga, the study’s lead author, told Medical News Today: “We used a transcriptomic approach to observe the effects of orange juice on the entire metabolic system, allowing us to see multiple pathways working together. We found improvements in key cardiometabolic markers, including blood pressure, inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism.”The study identified 1,705 genes affected by orange juice, with 98% being downregulated, highlighting its broad impact on cardiovascular health.Personalised Benefits and NutrigenomicsThe researchers noted that orange juice’s effects can vary based on an individual’s body weight. This provides insights for tailored dietary recommendations, particularly regarding flavonoid-rich foods like citrus. At the time of reporting, a litre of orange juice from Tesco cost 89p, making a 250ml serving roughly 22p.Supporting Evidence from Other StudiesThis is not the first time orange juice has been linked to heart health. A 2023 study in Lipids in Health and Disease found that consuming two glasses (480ml) daily for at least a year led to significantly lower cholesterol levels in participants aged 18–66.A meta-analysis reviewing nine studies also suggested that orange juice may improve levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol, though effects on total cholesterol and “good” HDL cholesterol were not significant.A 2021 study in the European Journal of Nutrition further showed that hesperidin-enriched orange juice could reduce systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure, offering a potential tool for managing pre- and stage-1 hypertension.It is important to remember that orange juice contains roughly 24 grams of sugar per serving, which should be considered when incorporating it into a daily diet, especially for those monitoring sugar intake.