High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects around a third of adults in the UK, while heart disease, which may be caused by this condition, claims more than 160,000 lives each year, according to the British Heart Foundation. Here’s one breakfast food that may help lower your high blood pressure and the consequent risk of heart diseases, according to new research.
The study notes that hypertension is a common condition, with more than a billion people living with high levels of blood pressure globally.
The tricky thing about this condition is that it rarely shows symptoms, so the only way to know your levels for sure is to have it checked.
Blood pressure is measured with two numbers, the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure.
According to the NHS, “ideal” blood pressure is somewhere between 90/60 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and 120/80mmHg.
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Anything above 140/90mmHg is considered to be high blood pressure, the health service notes.
The study researcher Dr Alexandra Wade shares that dairy may help tackle this. The doctor said: “Dairy foods, especially yoghurt, may be capable of reducing blood pressure.
“This is because dairy foods contain a range of micronutrients, including calcium, magnesium and potassium, all of which are involved in the regulation of blood pressure.
“Yoghurt is especially interesting because it also contains bacteria that promote the release of proteins which lowers blood pressure.”
The study, similarly to the NHS, defined high blood pressure as 140/90 mmHg or anything above.
The research team says these findings should inform other studies to investigate the health benefits of yoghurt further.
If you’re not sure what your blood pressure levels are, you can get your reading at your GP, some pharmacies and even workplaces.
There are also blood pressure monitors available for at-home use.
