DavidWolfe.comHave you ever heard of hawthorn berries? Hawthorn is often referred to as “the heart herb” due to its many heart-healthy benefits. The hawthorn bush boasts red, pink or white flowers, along with small berries that appear after the flowers have bloomed. When hawthorn berries ripen, they can be red or back. Hawthorn berry benefits stem from the many flavonoids they contain. Thanks to these powerful antioxidants, hawthorn berry health benefits include the ability to lower blood pressure levels, reduce high cholesterol and improve heart health.
Hawthorn Berry Health Benefits
1. Improve Heart Health
Hawthorn berry health benefits include the ability to improve heart health. Studies have shown that the polyphenols hawthorn berries contain help naturally lower blood pressure levels to improve cardiac function. These powerful antioxidants help improve heart rate, cardiac output and exercise tolerance while working to fight high blood pressure and improve overall heart health. (1)
2. Lower Blood Pressure
Hawthorn berry health benefits include the ability to naturally lower blood pressure levels. The antioxidants in hawthorn berry benefit the body by preventing illness and disease caused by high blood pressure. In a study published in The British Journal of General Practice, 79 patients with type 2 diabetes took 1200 milligrams of hawthorn extract or a placebo each day for 16 weeks. Researchers found that the hawthorn group experienced a greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure. (2)
3. Reduce Chest Pain and Heart Disease Risk
Hawthorn berry benefits include the ability to relieve chest pain. Angina can be caused by decreased blood flow to the heart. According to a study published in the Journal of Herbal Medicine and Toxicology, hawthorn berry health benefits include the ability to dilate the peripheral and coronary blood vessels. This helps improve blood flow to the heart to prevent chest pain. Hawthorn berry health benefits also include a reduced risk of heart disease. Studies have shown that combining aerobic exercise with hawthorn supplementation can help prevent heart disease by significantly lowering the risk of atherosclerosis and heart problems. (3)
4. Lower Cholesterol Levels
Hawthorn berry health benefits include the ability to naturally lower cholesterol levels. Studies have shown that hawthorn berry benefits the body by reducing LDL cholesterol as well as liver cholesterol and trigylcerides. Hawthorn berry benefits may also include a reduction in body weight.
5. Improve Overall Health
Hawthorn berry health benefits include the ability to improve overall health. The antioxidants in hawthorn berries work to fight inflammation that causes disease. Research has shown that hawthorn berry benefits the body by acting as a free radical scavenger. It helps reduce free radicals that cause damage to the cells. Hawthorn berry health benefits also extend to the gastrointestinal system. It protects the body by killing off various types of bacteria. By strengthening the immune system, lowering inflammation levels and improving overall health, hawthorn berry can also help fight stress, anxiety and insomnia.