Posted on 12/08/2010 7:07:56 AM PST by decimon
Low-cost protein gets big results in people with elevated blood pressure
PULLMAN, Wash.—Beverages supplemented by whey-based protein can significantly reduce elevated blood pressure, reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease, a Washington State University study has found.
Research led by nutritional biochemist Susan Fluegel and published in International Dairy Journal found that daily doses of commonly available whey brought a more than six-point reduction in the average blood pressure of men and women with elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressures. While the study was confined to 71 student subjects between the ages of 18 and 26, Fluegel says older people with blood pressure issues would likely get similar results.
"One of the things I like about this is it is low-cost," says Fluegel, a nutritional biochemistry instructor interested in treating disease through changes in nutrition and exercise. "Not only that, whey protein has not been shown to be harmful in any way."
Terry Shultz, co-author and an emeritus professor in the former Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, said the findings have practical implications for personal health as well as the dairy industry.
"These are very intriguing findings, very interesting," he said. "To my knowledge, this hasn't been shown before."
The study, which Fluegel did for her doctorate in nutritional biochemistry, notes that researchers in a 2007 study found no blood-pressure changes in people who took a whey-supplemented drink. At first, she saw no consistent improvement either. But then she thought to break out her subjects into different groups and found significant improvements in those with different types of elevated blood pressure. Improvements began in the first week of the study and lasted through its six-week course.
The supplements, delivered in fruit-flavored drinks developed at the WSU Creamery, did not lower the blood pressure of subjects who did not have elevated pressure to begin with. That's good, said Fluegel, as low blood pressure can also be a problem.
Other studies have found that blood-pressure reductions like those seen by Fluegel can reduce cardiovascular disease and bring a 35 to 40 percent reduction in fatal strokes.
Health benefits aside, researchers are excited about the prospect of improving the market for whey, a cheese byproduct that often has to be disposed of at some expense. Its potential economic impact is unclear, says Shannon Neibergs, a WSU extension economist, "but any positive use of that product is going to be beneficial."
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Several supplement makers contributed product to the study, which was funded in part by the Washington Dairy Products Commission. None of the contributors had a role in analyzing the data or writing the report.
Whey!
Schwing!
I have dropped about 15 pounds in the last year, but I am still probably a bit overweight - I am 6’ and weigh 195. I had been swimming five times a week (doc said exercise 5 times a week), but with a new job that has become impossible. The weight loss and exercise seemed to lower the BP slightly, but not down to the 120s.
>>>Would this be bad for people with type-2 diabetes?
Depends on the product - read the label for carb content per serving and ingredients.
Whey powder can be used creatively in baking as well to reduce carb content replacing flour - I know of recipes for cookies and muffins that are quite good.
No Whey!
Stay away from any processed foods that has the words "healthy, low fat, low carb etc" in the title. They are the very worst ones to eat...and most are misleading.
Can you recommend any books or web sites? Last year I read Real Food and that started me eating more grass fed meat.
This is one of the very best. Don't get fooled by the title. 95% of the posters are just regular folk wanting to get fit and eat right. Check out the nutrition and losing fat forums and if you are over 35 there is a special section as well. There are literally ten's of thousand of sections on ways of lowering BP. I would register and then do a search because it is easier.
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/
Yes Whey !
Thanks. My son takes weight lifting class and after school weight lifting. I think I should really sort of start just making these for him.
It's tasty stuff too. The EAS brand from Sam's anyway. Just like chocolate milk. Really helped my sweet craving when I started my diet.
.........
Whey a minute!
Whey Lady, whey!
You have whey too much time on your hands. Or is that paws. No wonder you like whey.
Very cool that I came across this article. Although it is old, I recently started consuming whey protein by the bag loads from this company www.personalstacks.com. They make it simple and easier for me to get personalized servings, and my blood pressure certainly feels better!
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