Published: Publish Date – 12:19 PM, Fri – 11 Mar 22
New York: Finding it hard to control your high blood pressure? According to new research, eating a balanced diet including protein from a variety of sources can help adults reduce their risk of developing high blood pressure.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the major contributors to heart disease. When left untreated, high blood pressure damages the circulatory system and is a significant contributing factor to heart attack, stroke, and other health conditions.
The study, published in the journal Hypertension, showed that 66 percent of people who ate four or more protein foods, including whole grains, refined grains, processed red meat, unprocessed red meat, poultry, fish, eggs and legumes was less. The risk of developing high blood pressure compared with those who ate less than two.
“The heart health message is that instead of focusing on one source of dietary protein, eating a balanced diet with protein from a variety of sources may help prevent the development of high blood pressure,” said Jianhui Qin from National Clinical Research. Kidney Disease Center at Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University in China.
“Nutrition can be an easily accessible and effective way to fight high blood pressure. Along with fat and carbohydrates, protein is one of the three basic macronutrients,” Qin said.
There is a strong association between poor dietary quality and an increased risk of heart disease and death from heart disease. In its 2021 Dietary Guidance for Improving Cardiovascular Health, the American Heart Association advises people to eat healthy sources of protein, mostly from plants and may include seafood and low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and Lean cuts and unprocessed forms of meat or poultry, if desired.
The American Heart Association also recommends eating one to two servings, or 5.5 ounces, of protein per day.
The team analyzed health information for about 12,200 adults living in China. A trained interviewer collected 24-hour dietary information on three days in the same week during each round of the survey.
The analysis found that more than 35 percent of the nearly 12,200 participants developed new-onset hypertension during follow-up.