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수박이 고혈압을 낮추고 심장마비를 예방하는 효과가 뛰어난 이른바 ‘새로운 수퍼과일’이라는 연구결과가 발표돼 화제다.
미국의 아메리칸 저널 오브 하이퍼텐션에 실린 이 연구 논문에 따르면, 수박 및 수박 추출물을 섭취하면 혈압이 감소하는 효과가 있어, 고혈압 과체중인 사람에게 특히 좋다.
또, 수박의 혈압 감소 효과는 심장마비로 사망하는 환자의 수가 증가하는 추운 날씨에도 특히 빛을 발한다. 온도가 낮아지면 인체 내 혈압은 높아지고, 심장이 혈액을 대동맥으로 밀어낼 때 더 큰 부담을 주게 된다.
이를 검증하기 위해 연구진은 고혈압 증상이 있는 중년 비만 남녀 13명을 대상으로 12주간의 수박 섭취 실험을 했다.
실험 참가자의 절반은 6주간 매일 4그램의 아미노산 L-시트룰린과 2그램의 L-아지나인을 함유한 수박 추출물을 섭취하고, 나머지 절반은 섭취하지 않은 상태에서 손을 차가운 물에 담가 저온에 노출된 상태에 가깝게 만들었다. 6주 후 두 그룹은 서로의 역할을 바꿔 다시 6주간 같은 실험을 했으며, 수박을 섭취한 그룹에서 혈압 감소 효과가 나타났다.
한국의 고혈압 인구는 약 660만 명으로 증가세를 보이고 있으며, 특히 30세 이상 성인 10명 중 3명이 고협압 환자인 것으로 알려졌다.
코리아헤럴드 온라인뉴스부 (khnews@heraldcorp.com)
<관련 영문 기사>
Watermelon is the new ‘cardio-superfruit’: scientists
Watermelon helps people stay healthy by reducing high blood pressure and preventing heart attacks, scientists found in a recent study.
The study, published in the American Journal of Hypertension, revealed that eating watermelon or taking watermelon extract significantly reduces blood pressure for overweight people, even when they are exposed to cold weather.
More people die of heart attacks in cold conditions because their blood pressure is raised, according to the study. High blood pressure means that the heart has to work harder to pump blood into the aorta. Overweight people therefore face a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes in cold conditions.
Scientists verified this conclusion through a 12-week watermelon experiment, conducted using 13 middle-aged obese men and women who suffered from high blood pressure. The participants’ hands were dipped into cold water to simulate cold weather conditions.
Every day, half of the participants took watermelon extracts that contained 4 grams of the amino acid L-citrulline and 2 grams of L-arginine. The other half of the participants were given a placebo, and after six weeks the groups switched roles.
The scientists found that eating watermelon lowered blood pressure and reduced cardiac stress, even in cold conditions.
By Chung Joo-won and news reports (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)
Watermelon is the new ‘cardio-superfruit’: scientists
Watermelon helps people stay healthy by reducing high blood pressure and preventing heart attacks, scientists found in a recent study.
The study, published in the American Journal of Hypertension, revealed that eating watermelon or taking watermelon extract significantly reduces blood pressure for overweight people, even when they are exposed to cold weather.
More people die of heart attacks in cold conditions because their blood pressure is raised, according to the study. High blood pressure means that the heart has to work harder to pump blood into the aorta. Overweight people therefore face a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes in cold conditions.
Scientists verified this conclusion through a 12-week watermelon experiment, conducted using 13 middle-aged obese men and women who suffered from high blood pressure. The participants’ hands were dipped into cold water to simulate cold weather conditions.
Every day, half of the participants took watermelon extracts that contained 4 grams of the amino acid L-citrulline and 2 grams of L-arginine. The other half of the participants were given a placebo, and after six weeks the groups switched roles.
The scientists found that eating watermelon lowered blood pressure and reduced cardiac stress, even in cold conditions.
By Chung Joo-won and news reports (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)
