Low-Fat
Dairy Products May Fight High Blood Pressure
Eating dairy products, especially low-fat ones, could help
lower your blood pressure, according to a report in the medical journal Hypertension.
Scientists are not clear where the beneficial effect comes
from, but they say low-fat dairy might be a crucial component of a healthy
diet.
"If you like to eat dairy products, you may be better off
watching the fat content," says Dr. Luc Djousse at Brigham and Women's Hospital. "Low-fat
dairy products may be better than full dairy products, where the saturated
fat especially is high.”
For the new study, the investigators looked at a possible
link between dairy consumption and blood pressure among 4,797 participants
of the Family Heart Study, sponsored by the National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
The researchers divided participants into four groups based
on the amount of dairy consumed.
Those consuming the most dairy products said they ate more
than three servings per day, while those consuming the least averaged less
than half a serving per day. Dairy included cheese, yogurt, and milk.
Systolic blood pressure was 2.6 millimeters of mercury (mm
Hg) lower, on average, for people eating the highest amount of dairy, compared
with those eating the least amount of dairy.
Systolic blood pressure is the first (higher) number in
a blood-pressure reading, and it indicates the pressure in the arteries when
the heart beats.
But when saturated fat content was taken into account, the
beneficial effect on blood pressure was only seen among those who ate lower
amounts of saturated fat.
In this group, participants who ate the most dairy had a
systolic blood pressure that was 3.5 mm Hg lower than those who ate the least
dairy.
Among participants who ate lower amounts of saturated fat,
those who also ate the most dairy had 54 percent lower odds of high blood pressure
than those eating the least amount of dairy.
The study was not able to identify those people who ate
low-fat dairy, but it had data on total fat, polyunsaturated fat, and saturated
fat.
Samantha Heller, nutritionist at New York University Medical
Center says: "The association [in the study] was mainly among people with less
saturated fat. We know this is a bad fat, and [you should] eat as little as
possible."
About one in three Americans suffers from high blood pressure,
which is a major risk factor for stroke and heart attack as well as kidney
and heart failure.
Medications can treat the condition, as can lifestyle changes
such as diet.
The Dietary Approaches to Stop
Hypertension (DASH) diet, which is low in salt and rich in fruits,
vegetables, and low-fat dairy products, has been shown to significantly lower
blood pressure.
But the secrets to the success of the DASH diet
have remained elusive.
"There was such a combination of factors that we don't know
whether the effect of DASH came from
low sodium, low cholesterol, or fruit and vegetables," explains Dr. Djousse. "It
has been hard to tell which part of that, or a combination of all, that were
producing the effects.”
It is not clear where the benefit is coming from or even
if it is cause-and-effect. It is unlikely to be calcium, Dr. Djousse says,
although potassium and magnesium, which are also plentiful in the DASH diet,
might be responsible.
"Our study showed that dietary potassium and magnesium were
associated with lower odds of high blood pressure," says Dr. Djousse.
The bottom line? "It would help to eat dairy products as
long as you keep the saturated fats in check," explains Dr. Djousse.
Always consult your physician for more information. |
The food guide pyramid is a guideline to help you eat
a healthy diet.
The food guide pyramid can help you eat a variety of foods
while encouraging the right amount of calories and fat.
The US Department of Agriculture
(USDA) and the US Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) have prepared the following food pyramid to
guide you in selecting foods.
The pyramid is divided into six colored bands representing
the five food groups plus oils.
Orange represents grains: Make half the grains consumed
each day whole grains. Whole-grain foods include oatmeal, whole-wheat flour,
whole cornmeal, brown rice, and whole-wheat bread.
Check the food label on processed foods - the words “whole” or “whole
grain” should be listed before the specific grain in the product.
Green represents vegetables: Vary your vegetables. Choose
a variety of vegetables, including dark green- and orange-colored kinds,
legumes (peas and beans), starchy vegetables, and other vegetables.
Red represents fruits: Focus on fruits. Any fruit or 100
percent fruit juice counts as part of the fruit group. Fruits may be fresh,
canned, frozen, or dried, and may be whole, cut-up, or pureed.
Yellow represents oils: Know the limits on fats, sugars,
and salt (sodium). Make most of your fat sources from fish, nuts, and vegetable
oils.
Limit solid fats like butter, stick margarine, shortening,
and lard, as well as foods that contain these.
Blue represents milk: Get your calcium-rich foods. Milk
and milk products contain calcium and vitamin D, both important ingredients
in building and maintaining bone tissue.
Purple represents meat and beans: Go lean on protein.
Choose low fat or lean meats and poultry. Vary your protein routine - choose
more fish, nuts, seeds, peas, and beans.
Activity is also represented on the pyramid by the steps
and the person climbing them, as a reminder of the importance of daily physical
activity.
Always consult your physician for more information.
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