Highlights:
- High consumption of grilled meat may increase the risk of high blood pressure.
- Chemicals called HAAs (heterocyclic aromatic amines) are produced when meat is grilled or exposed to high temperatures.
- Atherosclerosis is a condition which narrows the arteries and causes heart disease
- 17% higher among those who ate grilled meat for more than 15 times a month compared to individuals who ate less than 4 times a month.
- 15% higher in individuals who ate well done meat compared to those who preferred rarer meats.
- 17% higher in people who consumed higher amounts of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs), a chemical that is formed when meat is grilled or exposed to higher temperatures. The percentage was less in people who consumed fewer amounts of HAAs.
"The chemicals produced by cooking meats at high temperatures induce oxidative stress, inflammation and insulin resistance in animal studies, and these pathways may also lead to an elevated risk of developing high blood pressure," said Gang Liu, Ph.D., lead author of the study and a postdoctoral research fellow in the department of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. .
The inner linings of the blood vessels were affected by oxidative stress, inflammation and insulin resistance and lead to the development of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition which narrows the arteries and increases the pressure of blood.
This study only identifies the trend and does not prove cause and effect.The findings of the study were limited as it did not include certain types of meats (like pork and lamb) and cooking methods (such as stir-frying and stewing) and all the participants were mostly Caucasians.
"Our findings suggest that it may help reduce the risk of high blood pressure if you don’t eat these foods cooked well done and avoid the use of open-flame and/or high-temperature cooking methods, including grilling/barbequing and broiling," Liu said.
High blood pressure also known as hypertension, occurs when pressure of blood increases to unhealthy levels. This condition typically develops over a period of time due to narrowing of the arteries. The common symptoms of hypertension are headache, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness and blood in urine.Risk factors associated with hypertension are obesity,smoking, alcohol intake, high cholesterol,stress and diabetes.
Source-Medindia