Probiotics and Blood Pressure

The consumption of probiotics, which are the live bacteria found in yogurt, kefir, miso soup, and sauerkraut, among other foods—can lower blood pressure to a modest degree, according to the results of a new meta-analysis.

  
The reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were approximately 3.5 and 2.4 mm Hg, respectively. There were larger reductions among individuals with elevated blood pressure at baseline and those who consumed multiple probiotic species.

"However, even a small reduction of blood pressure may have important public-health benefits and cardiovascular consequences," states Dr Saman Khalesi (Griffith University, Australia) in the article published July 21, 2014 in Hypertension.

Researchers point out that the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) study showed a 22% relative reduction in risk of cardiovascular mortality, MI, or stroke.

"These findings, along with results from [another] meta-analysis on the beneficial effect of probiotics on the lipid profile, suggest that probiotics may be used as a potential supplement for future interventions to prevent hypertension or improve blood-pressure control," conclude Khalesi et al. Future studies are needed, however, to clarify the effects of different products with different probiotic species on blood pressure.                                                                                       

Probiotics have many benefits and it now appears that a reduction in blood pressure can be added to that list. Consider adding probiotics to your balanced diet. 

Great 8 Probiotic Foods

1.     Kefir

2.     Sauerkraut

3.     Kombucha

4.     Natto

5.     Yogurt

6.     Coconut kefir

7.     Kvass

8.     Raw cheese