A daily dose of yogurt is the next best thing for people with high blood pressure, according to new research from the University of South Australia.
The study found that those with hypertension who ate yogurt had lower blood pressure.
More than a billion people suffer from hypertension, which puts them at greater risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke.
In the United States, one person dies from CVD every 36 seconds, while in Australia it's every 12 minutes.
Dr Wade says the study shows that yogurt can have positive blood pressure outcomes for hypertensive people.
"High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, so it's important that we continue to find ways to reduce and regulate it," Dr Wade says.
It's possible that dairy foods can reduce blood pressure.
The regulation of blood pressure is influenced by the amount of calcium, magnesium, and potassium found in dairy foods.
Yoghurt has a lot of bacteria that help lower blood pressure.
The study showed that even small amounts of yogurt were associated with lower blood pressure for people with elevated blood pressure.
The results were even better for those who consumed yoghurt regularly, with blood pressure readings nearly seven points lower than those who did not.
The study was done on community-dwelling adults. Habitual yogurt consumption was measured. A normal blood pressure level is less than 120/80mmHg.
Researchers say that future observational and intervention studies should focus on at-risk individuals to examine the potential benefits of yogurt.
The story was told
The University of South Australia provided the materials. Content can be edited for style and length.
Journal reference
Benjamin A. Guenther, Merrill F. Elias, and others. Cross-sectional findings from the Maine–Syracuse longitudinal study show that higher yogurt intake is associated with lower blood pressure in hypertensive individuals. The International Dairy Journal was published in 2021.
