by
Stepy —
August 1, 2014
- Eating organic foods is key to optimal health.
- Fresh organic foods are packed with antioxidants and unique nutrients that can keep your immune system in top shape.
- The nutrients in these organic foods can also help prevent and treat disease.
- Probiotics are good bacteria that are famous for being a healthy ingredient in yogurt. These good bacteria are essential to our digestive health, and more.
- “When gut bacteria is out of balance not only is your digestion and feeling of well-being compromised, so is your immune system — and therefore your ability to defend against serious illness and disease,” says Dr. Joseph Mercola, a leading physician and nutrition expert.
- Eating probiotics regularly may significantly improve blood pressure, according to American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension.
- “The small collection of studies we looked at suggest regular consumption of probiotics can be part of a healthy lifestyle to help reduce high blood pressure, as well as maintain healthy blood pressure levels,” said Jing Sun, Ph.D, lecturer at Griffith Health Institute and School of Medicine and the senior author of this study. “This includes probiotics in yogurt, fermented and sour milk and cheese, and probiotic supplements.”
- Jing Sun and the team analyzed nine studies examining the link between probiotics and blood pressure, and found the following:
- Probiotic consumption lowered systolic blood pressure (the top number) by an average 3.56 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) by an average 2.38 mm Hg, compared to adults who didn’t consume probiotics.
- The positive effects from probiotics on diastolic blood pressure were greatest in people whose blood pressure was equal to or greater than 130/85, which is considered elevated.
- Consuming probiotics for less than eight weeks didn’t lower systolic or diastolic blood pressure.
- Probiotic consumption with a daily bacteria volume of 109-10 12 colony-forming units (CFU) may improve blood pressure. Consumption with less than 109 CFU didn’t lower blood pressure. CFU is the amount of bacteria or the dose of probiotics in a product.
- Probiotics with multiple bacteria lowered blood pressure more than those with a single bacteria.
- “We believe probiotics might help lower blood pressure by having other positive effects on health, including improving total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol; reducing blood glucose and insulin resistance; and by helping to regulate the hormone system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance,” Sun stated.
- “The studies looking at probiotics and blood pressure tend to be small,” Sun added. “Moreover, two studies had a short duration of three to four weeks of probiotic consumption, which might have affected the overall results of the analysis.”
- More studies need to be performed to confirm the benefits of probiotics on blood pressure before they can be recommended to treat hypertension.
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- AS ALWAYS: Check with your health practitioner before you change your diet. This organic food is not meant to replace any treatment or drugs you are taking.
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- For a blood pressure juice.
- For an apple cider vinegar blood pressure remedy.
- Study shows that eating watermelon may lower blood pressure.
- Probiotics may aid in weight loss.
- Friendly bugs can help fight your cold.
- For a gut health smoothie.
- For a probiotic smoothie.
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- REFERENCES:
- 1. “Effect of Probiotics on Blood Pressure.” Hypertension. American Heart Association, 21 July 2014. Web. 28 July 2014.
- 2. “Eating Probiotics Regularly May Improve Your Blood Pressure.” Blog.Heart.org. American Heart Association, 21 July 2014. Web. 28 July 2014.
- 3. “The Case for Healthy Bowels: The Vital Connection Between Your Gut and Your Health.” Mercola.com. Mercola.com, 18 Apr. 2009. Web. 28 July 2014.
- 4. “Eating Probiotics Regularly May Improve Your Blood Pressure.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 July 2014. Web. 28 July 2014.