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High Blood Pressure: Milk Proteins could be useful
In the UK, about half of people over 65, and about 1 in 4 middle-aged adults, have high blood pressure. It is more common in people who have a family history of high blood pressure, are overweight, eat a lot of salt, dont eat enough fruits and vegetables, dont exercise, or drink a lot of alcohol.
But, new research has found that middle-aged adults who favour skimmed milk and other low-fat dairy foods may have lower blood pressure.
54% less likely to develop high blood pressure
Spanish researchers examined 5,880 adults between the ages of 20 and 90 and who were free of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. The volunteers were asked to fill out questionnaires about their diet and other lifestyle factors. Then after two years, they repeated the questionnaire and the researchers ran tests to find out how many had developed high blood pressure.
Overall, 180 people developed the condition during the study period. Those who had reported the highest intake of low-fat dairy mostly in the form of skimmed and reduced-fat milk were 54 percent less likely to develop high blood pressure than those with the lowest intakes.
Even better, these benefits were after the researchers accounted for overall diet, exercise, body weight and smoking.
Milk proteins act in a similar manner to blood pressure drugs
This study is the first to link low-fat dairy intake to lower blood pressure in middle-aged patients. Previously, research had only found benefits in children and young adults.
The findings from these studies do not prove that low-fat dairy foods have a direct benefit on blood pressure, explained Dr. Alvaro Alonso, lead researcher. But he said it at least seems that people who want to prevent high blood pressure can include low-fat dairy foods in their diets.
Milk, the researchers noted, provides certain proteins caseins and whey proteins that may act in a similar way to blood pressure-lowering drugs called angiotensin converting enzyme, or ACE, inhibitors. They speculate that these proteins may help explain the study results.
So, if you are looking to prevent high blood pressure, this study suggests that you may want to switch to low-fat dairy products. As always, you should consult your doctor before making any changes to your medication or diet.
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