Did you know that the average adult American drinks 28 ounces a day of sugar-sweetened beverages? Or that a simple 12 ounce can of sugar-sweetened soda has 130 calories of sugar or eight teaspoonfuls! There is a lot of information showing that dietary changes can lower blood pressure naturally, promoting a recent study which investigated the impact of sugar-sweetened beverages on high blood pressure.

The study included 810 adults who consumed 10.5 ounces a day of sugar-sweetened beverages when the study began, which is less than the national average. The study participants, whose average age was 50, were tracked for 18 months and included primarily pre-hypertensives and some hypertensives. Although participants only cut their consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks by about half a serving, by the conclusion of the study a statistically significant decrease (1.8/1.1mmHg) was seen in blood pressure, even after adjusting for factors such as weight loss. It is worth noting that natural sugars, such as those from fruits, were distinguished from the artificial ones found in sugar-sweetened beverages.

While the study is not conclusive, it is part of a growing body of evidence that too many artificial sugars in our diet may be contributing to certain health conditions.

For more information see “Cut Back on Sodas to Lower Blood Pressure” by Denise Mann available at http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=116582.