Probiotics work to manage gut flora by controlling the pathoenic agents with good bacteria. WebMD reports that probiotics have even been linked to maintaining a strong immune system as well as these other ailments:
? Treating childhood diarrhea
? Treating ulcerative colitis
? Treating necrotizing enterocolitis
? Preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea
? Preventing infectious diarrhea
? Preventing pouchitis
? Treating and preventing eczema associated with cow’s milk allergy
Probiotics serve many beneficial purposes. They help regulate the gut flora, primarily, but recent studies published in the American Health Association (AHA) journal Hypertension show that probiotics might also help lower and maintain blood pressure level.
According for an AHA blog, “Probiotics are live microorganisms (naturally occurring bacteria in the gut) thought to have benefits; common sources are yogurt or health supplements.” Many fermented foods such as fermented pickles, cabbage, and milk also contain probiotics. However, the most common ways in which people ingest probiotics are through yogurt and dietary supplements.
The study, led by Dr. Jing Sun of the Griffith Health Institute and School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, analyzed nine other high-quality studies of 543 adults that examined the relationships between blood pressure level and probiotics. Here is what they found:
? Probiotic consumption lowered systolic blood pressure (the very best number) by a typical 3.56 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressure level (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 level were greatest in people whose blood pressure level was comparable to or greater than 130/85, that is considered elevated.
? Consuming probiotics for less than 8 weeks didn’t lower systolic or diastolic blood pressure level.
? Probiotic consumption having a daily bacteria amount of 109-10 12 colony-forming units (CFU) may improve blood pressure level. Consumption with less than 109 CFU didn’t lower blood pressure. CFU may be the quantity of bacteria or even the dose of probiotics inside a product.
? Probiotics with multiple bacteria lowered blood pressure more than individuals with a single bacteria.
While these initial findings are quite positive, the results aren’t absolute and wish more study and concentrate in order to truly comprehend the role that probiotics play in blood pressure level. As Dr. Sun said, “We believe probiotics may help lower blood pressure level by having other results 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 level and fluid balance.”
Heart disease is the number one killer of folks in America. According to the Mayo Clinic, high blood pressure is a type of heart disease and can result in stroke, dementia, coronary artery disease, or even a heart attack. Hypertension plays a part in circulation, eye damage, and kidney failure too. As if they were not bad enough, hypertension may lead to sexual dysfunction, sleep problems, and bone loss. And the kicker is people can live with hypertension for quite some time without knowing it.
The findings in Dr. Sun’s study are worth looking into more since cardiovascular disease plays such a tragic role in many American lives. To learn more, begin to see the current edition from the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension.
> Hypertension risk calculator
