New research suggests that an ingredient commonly found in processed foods may be linked to blood pressure.

In the study, published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, researchers point out that people in the United States are consuming a lot more fructose compared to previous generations. High blood pressure - also called hypertension - has also become much more common in the United States, now affecting nearly one-third of adults.

Fructose is a simple sugar that's found in table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. Most of the increase in the fructose that we're consuming is due to added sugars in sodas and processed foods such as baked snacks, according to the researchers.

They analyzed data from 4,528 adults across the country who didn't have a history of known hypertension. The participants answered questionnaires about the foods they regularly ate.

The researchers found that people who took in 74 or more grams of fructose daily had a higher chance of having elevated blood pressure levels. This is the amount of fructose found in two and a half sugary sodas. People consuming this much fructose had a 30-percent higher risk of having blood pressure of at least 140 over 90, which is where hypertension begins.

This study doesn't offer proof that fructose causes high blood pressure, but it makes an interesting connection. As the researchers point out, it's not too hard to limit the amount of fructose you consume. About one-third of added sugars in our diets come from sodas, and the rest comes from foods like baked goods, candy, and dairy desserts.

The National Institutes of Health suggest a diet that's rich in fruits and vegetables and lower in processed foods as a way to help keep blood pressure in check. In addition to the fructose they may contain, processed foods account for most of the sodium in Americans' diets. Trim out foods with added sugar, such as ice cream, pies, flavored yogurt, and candy bars, and eat more fruits and berries. Switch from regular sodas to water or low-fat or fat-free milk.

As the amount of fructose in your diet from processed foods dwindles, your blood pressure might just drift downward, as well.

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