Soda Cutback May Trim Blood Pressure

Having fewer sweetened drinks can reduce blood pressure, new research suggests. The study included 810 people. Their average age was 50. Their blood pressure was high or just under the high range. When the study started, they drank an average of 10.5 ounces of sugary beverages per day. That’s just under one serving, a 12-ounce can. Sweetened drinks included regular soda, fruit drinks and lemonade. After 18 months on a weight loss program, the average person was drinking half a serving less per day. Researchers calculated that cutting back by one whole serving per day led to a drop of 1.8 points in systolic pressure. This is the first and larger number in a blood pressure reading. Diastolic pressure, the second and smaller number, fell 1.1 points. Weight loss caused some of the drop. However, researchers said cutting sweetened drinks had a significant effect.