A new article appearing in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association reveals that there is a specific amino acid in vegetable protein that can help lower blood pressure.
By consuming 4.72 percent more glutamic acid as part of their daily protein intake, individuals in the study were able to lower their systolic blood pressure by an average of 1.5 to 3.0 mm Hg.
The average diastolic blood pressure reading also dropped and was recorded as 1.6mm Hg.
A lower blood pressure promotes heart health because it decreases an individuals risk of stroke or heart attack. If people were to incorporate this vegetable protein into their diet, they could potentially experience a drop in their blood pressure by an average of 2 mm H/g, says lead author Dr. Jeremiah Stamler.
The professor from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University further explains, “blood pressure tends to rise with age starting early in life so that the majority of the U.S. population age 35 and older is affected by pre-hypertension or hypertension,” indicating the older population should attend to their blood pressure levels.
Those who are looking to improve their eating habits may also consider the alkaline diet. It is rich in citrus fruits, vegetables, tubers, nuts and legumes and may boost bone health and help control blood pressure into old age. 