Eating raisins and soy appears to help ward off high blood pressure, according to two studies presented on Sunday, AFP reported.

Munching on a handful of raisins three times a day helped people with slightly elevated blood pressure lower their numbers after several weeks, said one of the studies.

Researchers think it may have to do with the high level of potassium in the shriveled, dried grapes.

A second study on soy showed that daily intake of foods like tofu, peanuts and green tea helped lower blood pressure in more than 5,100 white and African American people aged 18-30.

Soy and the isoflavones it contains work by boosting enzymes that create nitric oxide, which in turn helps to widen blood vessels and reduce blood pressure, a researcher explained.

(China.org.cn April 5, 2012)

法新社报道，据周日展示的两份研究显示，食用葡萄干、大豆貌似有助于防御高血压。

其中的一份研究表示，每天三次食用少许葡萄干数周后，血压稍微偏高人的血压得到降低。

研究人员认为，这可能与葡萄干中钾含量高有关。

另外一份研究表明，每天食用豆腐、花生、绿茶等食物降低了5100余名18至30岁美国白人和非裔美国人的血压。

一名研究人士解释说，黄豆以及其中含有的异黄酮可以使得几种酶增多，这些酶可制造出氧化一氮，从而起到扩张血管，降低血压的作用。