We love a strawberry yoghurt with our lunch but now we need not feel guilty about its creamy goodness because it can actually reduce the risk of high blood pressure by over a third!
Scientists say the calcium in yoghurts can make blood vessels supple and allow them to expand and keep blood pressure low.
The American study surveyed 2,000 volunteers and found that those who ate yoghurt on a regular basis were less likely to develop high blood pressure.
According to the Telegraph, Rick Miller, a member of the British Dietetic Association said: “Calcium is needed in muscle tissue, including blood vessel walls, and if there isn’t enough, they are not going to operate properly. In effect the calcium helps keep vessels supple.”
Eating a yoghurt every day can decrease your risk of high blood pressure
He stressed that yoghurts and milk are the best at providing the body with calcium but said taking calcium pills is not advisable because these harden the arteries.
Professor Gareth Beevers of the Blood Pressure Association in Britain said that yoghurt is effective in lowering blood pressure but should not be considered a way of counteracting high blood pressure in those suffering from hypertension.
“I would regard it as part of a healthy lifestyle – even if personally I can’t stand the stuff,” he said.
According to the Irish Heart Foundation, half of Irish people over the age of 50 have high blood pressure and suffer from the complications that arise because of it.
All we know is we’ll be tucking into our yoghurt for many years to come!
