May/June 2006
HEALTH BYTES

Vegetable protein lowers blood pressure

People who eat more protein from vegetable sources appear to have lower blood pressure than people who get most of their protein from animal sources, according to a recent study. In the study, researchers examined data from 2,359 men and 2,321 women aged 40 to 59 from Japan, China, the United Kingdom and the United States. They found that people who ate the most vegetables had the lowest blood pressure levels. Researchers suggested that vegetable proteins are higher in certain amino acids that could lower blood pressure, and noted that "a diet high in vegetable products (should) be part of a healthy lifestyle for prevention of high blood pressure and related chronic diseases.”

Archives of Internal Medicine, January 2006