YOGURT CAN LOWER HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Bacteria aren’t the first allies we turn to for staying healthy
– there are enough strains that can cause serious illness, after all – but
there’s growing evidence that certain strains of the bugs can actually be good
for your health, and may even relieve symptoms of inflammatory conditions,
allergies and possibly even
obesity
In the latest report on these microbial allies, researchers
add one more possible benefit of probiotics – the live concoctions of bacteria
contained in foods like yogurt. In an analysis of nine studies that looked at
probiotic use and blood pressure, the report in the journalHypertension found that people using probiotics
tend to have lower blood pressure compared to those who didn’t eat them. The
effects seemed to be stronger among those with higher blood pressure to begin
with, and among those consuming multiple probiotic strains and in higher doses.
What do bacteria have to do with blood
pressure? The researchers say that the micro-organisms could be helping to
address hypertension in a variety of ways, from lowering cholesterol levels,
which can contribute to less fatty buildup in the vessels and therefore reduce
the chances of developing hypertension, to controlling blood sugar and keeping
the enzymes and proteins that control blood flow and fluid volumes in check.
The results aren’t exactly a prescription for
treating hypertension — at least not yet. But they raise the interesting
possibility of incorporating a probiotic regimen into blood pressure
management. The study authors admit, however, that more questions still need to
be answered, such as which micro-organisms might be associated with the
strongest effect on blood pressure, as well as which combinations of bacterial
strains work best. The formulation of the probiotic may also be important, they
say – in the studies they reviewed, participants consumed probiotics primarily
from yogurt, but also from cheese, sour milk and supplements (liquid or
capsules). Hitting the right threshold of microbes also seems to be important,
and figuring out that volume is also essential before any advice about using
probiotics to lower blood pressure is given
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