The avocado is a fruit that was cultivated in Mexico and Central America. It is also known as the alligator pear or butter fruit. The avocado contains various nutrients including carbohydrates, protein, fiber, fat, and vitamins. Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats (1).
The avocado plant has been used for its medicinal properties since ancient times. It has been used to treat heart disease and stroke, as well as high blood pressure. (2) Some research has shown that eating avocados may help lower blood pressure by reducing inflammation (3).
Avocado extract has been shown to lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels in people with high blood pressure. It may also help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
In this article, we will take a look at a study involved in the effectiveness of avocado extract in lowering blood pressure.
Avocado Effectiveness on Reducing Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension is a chronic disease that can damage the heart, brain, and kidneys. It is one of the most common diseases in the world.
The present study aimed to determine the effect of avocado leaf extract on lowering blood pressure among hypertensive patients in Indonesia.
The study conducted at Universitas Ahmad Dahlan found that avocado leaf decoction can reduce blood pressure among patients with hypertension. The study was conducted in a rural area of East Java, Indonesia, where it is common for people to be exposed to high levels of stress, pollution, and poor diets. This kind of environment is conducive to hypertension development and progression.
The researchers used a quasi-experimental design with a pre-post control group design. They first determined the baseline measurements for each participant's systolic and diastolic blood pressures, then gave them 200 milliliters of avocado leaf decoction to drink once daily for two weeks (the treatment phase). After two weeks, they took new measurements for each participant again (the post-treatment phase).
Findings of the study
After ingesting avocado leaf decoction for two weeks, the results indicated that there was a considerable drop in mean blood pressure on both the systolic and diastolic sides. Based on these findings, it is recommended that medical professionals enhance the quality of service they provide to the community by providing hypertension patients with counseling regarding non-pharmacological therapy options for decreasing blood pressure.
Conclusion
Currently, there are many cases of hypertension and the percentage of hypertensive patients increases rapidly each year. Hypertension is becoming a major concern for health specialists globally. More study into non-pharmacological methods of treating hypertension is therefore warranted.
Avocado extract has been used for a long time in traditional remedies because of its hypolipidemic and anti-hypertensive properties. The researchers investigated the effects of avocado leaf decoction on hypertensive patients and found that administering avocado leaves to these patients lowers their blood pressure effectively and without any side effects.
* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
