Fruits, Vegetables‍ Key to Hypertension, Kidney Health Treatment

Updated June 10, 2025

Incorporating more⁣ fruits ⁣and vegetables into the diet is⁢ a foundational⁢ element in treating hypertension, according to doctors.⁣ A study in⁢ The American Journal of medicine found ⁢that diets rich in these foods can lower blood pressure, improve kidney health, and reduce cardiovascular risk.

Despite medical advancements in treating hypertension, ⁢hypertension-related⁤ chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular mortality continue⁣ to rise.⁣ Heart disease remains the ⁤leading cause of death for individuals with chronic kidney ‍disease.

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)⁤ diet,⁣ which emphasizes fruits and vegetables, is often recommended ‍as ⁤a first-line treatment⁣ for⁤ hypertension.‍ Though, its prescription⁢ and implementation ⁤remain low despite evidence supporting its benefits.⁢ High consumption of fruits and vegetables is linked to⁢ lower blood pressure, reduced risk of chronic kidney disease, and decreased cardiovascular disease mortality.

Dr. Donald E. Wesson,lead investigator from Dell Medical School at The University ⁢of Texas at Austin,explained that his ⁤research explores how the kidney removes acid from the blood. He noted⁤ that diets high in ‍animal⁣ products can⁤ harm the kidneys, while ‍diets rich in fruits and vegetables promote kidney health. he hypothesized that the benefits of fruits and vegetables stem⁤ from their ability to reduce acid levels in the body.

the five-year randomized control trial involved 153 participants with hypertension but without⁤ diabetes. These participants were divided into ⁣three groups: one group added 2-4 cups of fruits and vegetables to their daily diet, another ⁤took sodium‍ bicarbonate tablets, and the third received standard medical care.

The study revealed that both fruits and vegetables and sodium bicarbonate improved kidney health. However, only fruits and vegetables ⁣lowered blood pressure and improved cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Importantly, fruits and vegetables achieved the ⁤latter two⁢ benefits with lower doses of medication used⁤ to lower blood pressure and reduce cardiovascular disease risk,” said Dr. Maninder Kahlon, co-investigator from ⁤Dell ⁤Medical School.

Kahlon added that while both interventions benefit kidney health, ‍fruits and vegetables offer the added advantages of blood pressure reduction and decreased cardiovascular risk.This supports the recommendation that fruits and vegetables ⁤should be the cornerstone of hypertension treatment, potentially reducing the need for⁢ high medication doses.

Researchers advocate for prioritizing dietary strategies, like increasing fruit and vegetable intake, before relying solely on medication.They suggest starting with dietary⁢ changes and adding drugs as needed.

Dietary interventions for chronic disease management are often not recommended and even less often executed because of the many⁢ challenges⁣ to get patients to implement them. ⁤Nevertheless, they are effective, and in‍ this instance, kidney and cardiovascular protective,” Wesson said.

Wesson urged increased efforts to incorporate dietary changes⁣ into ‍patient care and improve access to ⁤healthy diets for those at risk of kidney and ⁤cardiovascular disease.

The researchers also recommend that patients with hypertension⁣ consult their⁣ doctors about ⁢measuring their urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) to check ⁣for⁤ underlying kidney disease and increased cardiovascular risk.

What’s next

further research⁢ will⁣ focus on strategies to improve patient adherence to dietary recommendations and⁤ explore the long-term effects of fruit⁣ and vegetable consumption on hypertension and ⁤related health outcomes.