Fruit and vegetable supply issues on blood pressure

June 14, 2023 | Food Testing Lab

In this study, researchers from the University of Kent and University of Cambridge claimed that lower income countries, where there is reduced availability of nutritious fruits and vegetables, are more likely to have higher levels of blood pressure.

They have examined the link between fruit and vegetable consumption and blood pressure by analyzing supply trends from 1975 to 2015. They ascertained whether the data was able to meet the World Health Organization’s recommendations of having 400 g of fruit and vegetables a day to minimize the risk for serious health problems.

The investigation included examining the associations with systolic, diastolic, and raised blood pressure data with regards to fruit and vegetable supply across 159 countries. Reports indicated a positive correlation - increased availability of fruits and vegetables resulted in decreased levels of blood pressure.

The researchers were also able to discover how nearly half of the countries analyzed didn’t have enough access to fruits and vegetables, something that is considered to be a marked problem in low-income countries. Thus, individuals in low-income countries are at a higher risk of having raised blood pressure.

This study highlights the urgency and the need for both national and international policies to expand fruit and vegetable productivity and sustainable supply, especially in low-income countries.