Flavonoid-Rich Foods Are Linked to Heart Health and Lower Blood Pressure Says New Study

A type of antioxidant, flavonoids, specifically one called anthocyanins, which lends the red and blue coloring to certain fruits like grapes, berries, and black currants, have been shown to lower blood pressure, reports Medical News Today. Gut microbiota break down flavonoid-rich foods into compounds that protect the heart, and people who ate 1.5 servings of berries per day or drank 2.8 glasses or red wine per week had lower blood pressure, compared to those who didn’t, in a study conducted by Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland.

The findings, originally published in the journal Hypertension, are the first to look at how flavonoid-rich foods lower blood pressure, and their connection to gut and heart health. Also, worth noting, especially if you’re not a big fan of berries or cabs, the study found that eating apples and pears led to lower blood pressure, too—and the cardiovascular benefits that produces.

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