Milk Proteins and Fats Reduce Blood Pressure

Eat full-fat dairy to double down on high blood pressure!

Women who ate milk protein reduced their blood pressure. Overweight inactive women (n=33) with either pre- or hypertension exercised 3x week and consumed either whey, casein or carbohydrates over 4 weeks. The women consuming the milk protein supplements significantly reduced their systolic blood pressure (SBP) by 5-7 mmHg, wave reflection and arterial stiffness compared to those who consumed a carbohydrate supplement (Figueroa et al. 2014). Milk proteins may decrease blood pressure by improving arterial function.

Women and men who ate more full-fat dairy products had lower blood pressure. French-Canadian women and men who had more trans-palmitoleic acid in their blood plasma had lower blood pressure (Da Silva et al 2014). Trans-palmitoleic acid is a healthy fat found in full-fat dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt and butter.

 

References:

Figueroa A, Wong A, Kinsey A, Kalfon R, Eddy W, Ormsbee MJ. Effects of milk proteins and combined exercise training on aortic hemodynamics and arterial stiffness in young obese women with high blood pressure. Am J Hypertens. 2014;27:338-44. Pubmed doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpt224

Da Silva MS, Julien P, Couture P, Lemieux S, Vohl M, Rudkowska I. Associations between dairy intake and metabolic risk parameters in a healthy French-Canadian population. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2014; 1 doi: 10.1139/apnm-2014-0154