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Do Good with Dairy
This Week's Tips
Head down the dairy aisle to help keep your blood pressure in check.
Making low-fat dairy products a regular part of people's diets may reduce hypertension risk by about 50 percent, results of a small study suggest. Although more research is needed to confirm the link, low-fat dairy products such as nonfat milk, yogurt, and reduced-fat cheeses remain a good source of lean protein and bone-boosting calcium.
About 33 percent of adults have high blood pressure, a condition that puts strain on the heart, brain, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. In a recent study, researchers discovered that an increased intake of low-fat dairy products could cut the risk of high blood pressure in half. Although whole-fat dairy and calcium intake did not affect hypertension risk in this study, high-fat foods have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in many other studies, so continue to minimize your intake of these. Also, a large body of research shows that minerals such as calcium are important for boosting bone health and regulating blood pressure. To further reduce your risk of hypertension, exercise regularly, don't smoke, and maintain a healthy weight.
RealAge Benefit:
Keeping your blood pressure at or below 115/76 mm Hg can make your RealAge as much as 12 years younger.
RealAge Smart Search: Find out where the experts stand on the health benefits of low-fat dairy products with our expert-driven search engine.
Low-fat dairy consumption and reduced risk of hypertension: the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) cohort. Alonso, A., Beunza, J. J., Delgado-Rodriguez, M., Martinez, J. A., Martinez-Gonzalez, M. A., The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2005 Nov;82(5):972-979.
