High blood pressure is a widespread disease. The research team led by study leader Alexandra Wade has discovered that a certain milk product has been shown to lower blood pressure.

Study shows: yoghurt is good for blood pressure and cardiovascular system

But yoghurt and the lactic acid bacteria it contains are not only good for the intestines, but also for our heart. This is the result of a recent study by a research team from the University of South Australia and the University of Maine. The study showed how positively the consumption of the dairy product affects blood pressure and risk factors for the cardiovascular system.

Hypertension, better known in everyday life as high blood pressure, is a disease affecting more than a billion people worldwide. High blood pressure can, in turn, increase the risk of more serious cardiovascular diseases such as a stroke or heart attack.

In their study, the researchers came to the conclusion that the consumption of fermented milk products such as yoghurt, cheese or quark can lead to an improvement in the clinical picture. This is because dairy products contain micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, which are involved in regulating blood pressure in the human body.

Lower blood pressure with yoghurt: It’s that easy

However, yoghurt products are particularly effective because they contain bacteria in addition to the micronutrients. More specifically: “Bacteria that promote the release of proteins that lower blood pressure,” reports study leader Alexandra Wade in a press release. “The study showed that even small amounts of yogurt lowered blood pressure in people with high blood pressure,” Wade said.

The study conducted a cross-sectional analysis on a total of 915 people to examine the effects of yogurt consumption. The participants had to indicate how often they usually eat yoghurt. The research team also has different types of blood pressure

Likewise the body mass index, cholesterol, blood sugar and other metabolic values. The researchers classified high blood pressure as a clinical picture from a blood pressure of 140 to 90 or higher. A normal blood pressure reading is less than 120 over 80.

Yoghurt consumption lowers high blood pressure by up to 7 percent

The daily consumption of yoghurt led to even clearer results in this study. The blood pressure values ​​of subjects with high blood pressure fell by up to seven percentage points. The product has been shown to help lower blood pressure. According to the research team, the data evaluation shows a “significant association” between the consumption of yoghurt and reduced high blood pressure – but only among the participants who also have high blood pressure.

The value did not drop in the study participants whose blood pressure was already in the normal range. Of the more than 900 participants, 564 people had

Wade’s research team now wants to carry out further studies. The potential benefits of yoghurt will be examined more closely, especially for high-risk patients. But beware: Eating yoghurt alone often does not help. If you suffer from high blood pressure, try to gradually change your diet and start walking or exercising regularly.