To win the battle against high blood pressure, arm yourself with a spear. Researchers in Japan fed hyper tensive rats a diet containing 5% asparagus for 10 weeks and found that the rodents’ systolic BP levels were lower than those of rats given a normal diet. A naturally occurring compound in asparagus called 2”-hydroxynicotianamine may block a hypertension-causing enzyme in the kidneys, the scientists say. Further research may find a similar effect in humans.
STALKING A KILLER
To win the battle against high blood pressure, arm yourself with a spear. Researchers in Japan fed hyper tensive rats a diet containing 5% asparagus for 10 weeks and found that the rodents’ systolic BP levels were lower than those of rats given a normal diet. A naturally occurring compound in asparagus called 2”-hydroxynicotianamine may block a hypertension-causing enzyme in the kidneys, the scientists say. Further research may find a similar effect in humans.
