An estimated one out of every three American adults has high blood pressure, or hypertension, a disorder of the cardiovascular system. The health of the arteries and the fluid balance in the body often impact blood pressure health. The development of arterial plaque that narrows arteries puts stress on the heart because it pumps faster to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the organs. An excess of fluid often causes high blood pressure. Pomegranate juice is a beverage that improves these health conditions by providing nutrients that regulate these body systems.
Potassium
An 8-oz. serving of pomegranate juice provides 533 mg of potassium, or 15 percent of the 3,500 mg United States Department of Agriculture daily value. Consuming a diet that meets the daily potassium requirement is important because it controls fluid balance in the body. An excess level of fluid in the body may cause high blood pressure, and dehydration, or a lack of fluid may cause low blood pressure. The potassium contribution pomegranate juice adds to the body's nutrient supply may prevent the imbalance these two extremes may cause.
Sodium
The sodium level in 8 oz. of pomegranate juice is 22 mg, or 1 percent of the 2,400 mg daily intake limit the USDA recommends. The American diet often provides more sodium than the body needs, which often elevates blood pressure. The dietary supply of sodium and potassium must remain within the USDA recommendations because they maintain fluid balance. An excess or deficiency in either mineral may increase or decrease blood pressure. Consuming pomegranate juice is a healthier beverage for blood pressure regulation compared with soda, or heavily preserved fruit juices that contain more sodium.
Antioxidant
The tannins, or antioxidants, in pomegranate juice reduce blood pressure because they protect blood vessels from arterial plaque formation that narrows the bloodstream and forces the heart to pump faster. In 2001, researchers at Technion Israel Institute of Technology monitored the blood pressure of study participants who consumed 3.5 oz. of pomegranate juice each day for two weeks. The systolic blood pressure, the top number representing the heart contraction, reduced by 5 percent.
Water
An 8-oz. serving of pomegranate juice provides 7.5 oz. of water. Water is important for regulating blood pressure. If you do not consume enough water, the concentrations of the minerals that maintain the volume and blood pressure in the body may become imbalanced. An adequate amount of water is about 64 oz. daily, according to the Mayo Clinic website.
References
- USDA: Nutrient Data Laboratory: Pomegranate Juice, Bottled
- Mayo Clinic; Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day?; April 2010
- Atherosclerosis; Pomegranate Juice Consumption Inhibits Serum Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Activity and Reduces Systolic Blood Pressure; Micheal Aviram, et al; September 2001
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: High Blood Pressure Facts; March 2011
