Keeping blood pressure under control is crucial in maintaining good heart health and reducing the likelihood of a stroke. There are a number of non-drug approaches that have research backing, such as following a DASH diet rich in vegetables and fruits. We haven’t seen any studies of eggplant water, but many readers are interested in this approach.
How Do You Make Eggplant Water?
Q. I have been drinking “eggplant water” I made from floating half a dozen thinly sliced pieces of raw eggplant on top of two or three quarts of water in a bowl. I discard the eggplant after a few hours, when it starts to turn brown. I have been drinking 60 ounces of this water daily for about two weeks.
My weight dropped 7 pounds and my blood pressure is down from 150/80 to 124/66. This might be helping my insulin resistance, which made it hard for me to lose weight before.
A. When cells don’t respond efficiently to insulin, blood sugar control is more difficult. Losing weight is also more challenging, but people who shed pounds often lower their blood pressure.
You are not the first reader to mention eggplant water for hypertension, but the previous recipe called for just one ounce daily, not 60. We don’t know for sure why this might be helpful, but we have a couple of hypotheses.
Anthocyanins and Blood Pressure:
Eggplants are rich in dark purple compounds called anthocyanins (Plant Science, Aug., 2016). Research on anthocyanins has not shown that they lower blood pressure consistently (Medicine, April, 2016).
However, some extracts of eggplant appear to inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), just as certain blood pressure medicines do (Bioresource Technology, May, 2008). It is possible that alpha-glucosidase inhibiting enzymes in eggplant also help with insulin resistance. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors from other plants are being investigated for their ability to keep blood sugar from soaring after meals (Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, April, 2010).
You will find a number of other non-drug approaches for controlling hypertension along with a discussion of the pros and cons of common medications in our guide to Blood Pressure Treatment. If you are interested in more details on following a DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), you’ll find them in our book, The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies.
Revised 9/28/16
