Sesame Plus Rice Bran Oils Lower Blood Pressure Naturally

Both sesame and rice bran oil are low in saturated fat, with previous studies suggesting that both improve cholesterol levels. Devarajan Sankar, from University Chikushi Hospital (Japan), and colleagues studied 300 people, average age 57 years, with mild to moderately high blood pressure, for 60 days. Subjects were divided into three groups: one group was treated with a calcium-channel blocker medication; the second group used a blend of sesame and rice bran oils daily – 1 ounce as part of their meals; the third group received both the medications and the oil blend. Subjects using the oil blend saw an average drop in systolic blood pressure of 14 points, and those using both the oil and medication saw a 36 point reduction (systolic blood pressure dropped 16 points in those subjects on medication only). Diastolic blood pressure also dropped significantly, with an 11 point drop among participants consuming the oil and 24 for those using both the oil and medication (diastolic blood pressure dropped 12 points in those subjects on medication only).