Nut consumption linked to lower hypertension risk

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that daily consumption of nuts may reduce the risk of hypertension. The study analyzed data from 143,380 adults aged 18 to 87, identifying 20,665 cases of hypertension during the observation period.

Researchers found that individuals with the highest nut consumption had a 16% lower relative risk of developing hypertension compared to those with the lowest consumption. Specifically, each additional 28-gram serving was associated with a 20% reduction in relative risk. The study noted that consuming approximately 30 grams per day was linked to a 26% lower relative risk, though the benefits appeared to stabilize beyond this amount.

Nuts provide essential nutrients including unsaturated fats, fiber, plant protein, magnesium, and potassium, which support vascular function and blood pressure regulation. However, researchers noted that hypertension is influenced by various other factors such as age, genetics, weight, physical activity, and overall diet.