Latest research highlights that dairy products, like low fat milk, are likely to aid the reduction of high blood pressure in older age.
A third of adults are estimated to suffer from hypertension, with only a third of them aware that they have this condition.
High blood pressure is a key factor which causes heart attacks, heart failure, stroke as well as kidney disease . Due to the lack of instantly identifiable symptoms hypertension is often called ‘the silent killer’.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has published this latest research, having measured blood pressure of 2,245 participants aged 55 plus, over six years. Individuals were divided into five groups dependent on which type of dairy intake was in their diet : cheese, milk and milk products, high fat dairy, low fat dairy and the fermented milk category.
The study demonstrated that those who ate more low fat dairy (561grams) and milk products daily (651grams) had a lesser chance of hypertension than those eating less low-fat dairy (21 grams) and milk products (127grams). An addition of an extra serving of dairy on a daily basis lowered the risk of hypertension by 7%. Astoundingly, the study discovered that the consumption of cheese and higher fat dairy products did not increase the risk of hypertension.
Minerals in dairy products like calcium and potassium are crucial for the regulation of blood pressure. This study is an extra building block to an increasing body of evidence which suggests that dairy proteins and minerals play an important role in maintaining a healthy blood pressure.
The study also highlighted that dairy products with higher fat content, like hard cheese, are not related to higher blood pressure levels. Hence, such foods can play a part in a healthy, well balanced diet ; one high in fruit and vegetables and a variety of foods.
