A new study suggests that spices may help combat high blood pressure by reducing salt consumption in daily meals. Additionally, seasoning foods liberally with herbs and spices can be beneficial for heart health, according to the study authors. In a controlled experiment, researchers found that adding 6.5 grams, or about 1.3 teaspoons, of spices per day after four weekscould reduce high blood pressure.
The heart-protective effect of spices against high blood pressure
The new study results showed that herb-seasoned foods prevent the addition of extra sodium, sugar or saturated fat. According to the researchers, heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes remain among the leading causes of death. Accordingly, a balanced daily diet plays a crucial role in maintaining low blood pressure. In addition, limiting sodium intake is an important step in this direction. Therefore, the study authors wanted to find out how herbs and spices affect heart health because they are versatile and can be added to many different types of foods. To do this, they recruited 71 people with risk factors for heart disease. Each study participant consumed a low, a moderate, and a fortified type of spice diet. These included approximately 0.5 grams, 3.2 grams and 6.5 grams of herbs and spices per day.
The cans contained a mix of 24 different herbs and spices, ranging from basil and thyme to cinnamon and turmeric, to simulate how people use different herbs and spices in cooking throughout the day. Participants had lower systolic blood pressure after the high-dose diet than after the medium dose. High doses of herbs and spices also led to lower diastolic blood pressure. Researchers were excited by the results because the diets in the study were not specifically designed for heart health. Another finding was that the foods used were typical of a Western diet. According to scientists, it canthis studyto incorporate herbs and spices into a healthy dietary pattern with less salt, added sugars and solid fats to help develop healthier dietary recommendations.
