Nancy Dell: Hypertension & caffeine; veggies and colon cancer

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) -  

1. I have High Blood Pressure. Can I drink regular coffee with caffeine?
Rob, Springfield

We do know that the caffeine in regular coffee will raise blood pressure temporarily. How much it increases blood pressure will vary person to person.

The increase is far less substantial in people who have a long history of drinking caffeinated coffee because they develop a tolerance to it. So determine your own tolerance to caffeine by taking your blood pressure through out the day when you drink coffee and compare it to your blood pressures on a day where you reduce or avoid caffeine. If your blood pressure is too high on the caffeine day, then wean off it. If you just can't give up your caffeine, then follow the other diet guidelines to lower blood pressure.

To Lower Blood Pressure

- Maintain Healthy Weight
- Exercise
- Limit Sodium
- Eat More Fruits & Veggies
- Eat 2 Low Fat Milks or Yogurts a day

What about alcohol and Blood Pressure? Like caffeine, the effect of alcohol on Blood Pressure varies with each person. For some people it may be the main lifestyle factor that raises it and for others alcohol may have no effect.

2. What vegetables reduce the risk of colon cancer?
Sophia, East Longmeadow

There are different parts of the colon that are protected by different vegetables.

A recent Australian study of 2000 people found that cabbage family vegetables, like broccoli and cauliflower, reduce the risk of proximal and distal colon cancers.

Dark yellow vegetables and apples protected the distal colon and fruit juice actually increased the risk of rectal cancer.

So eat a variety of different colored vegetable and eat whole fruits to protect all parts of the colon.