ABSTRACT
Once hypertension was recognized as a dangerous condition in the 1930s, attempts were made to lower the elevated blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients (1). Initially, the problem was approached by dietary measures only, aiming to restrict sodium consumption. The “severe” rice and fruit diet of Kempner displayed modest but significant antihypertensive activity. Although extremely difficult for patients to maintain long term, the rice and fruit diet may be considered as the trigger mechanism that led to the development of diuretics as antihypertensive drugs.
