Long-term research suggests balanced intake from multiple protein sources may reduce the likelihood of developing high blood pressure.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A large, long-term study tracking more than 12,000 adults in China has found that consuming protein from a wider range of food sources is associated with a substantially lower risk of developing high blood pressure.
The research, published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension, analyzed dietary and health data collected through the China Health and Nutrition Survey between 1997 and 2015. Led by Dr. Xianhui Qin of Southern Medical University, the study examined not only total protein intake but also the diversity of protein sources in participants’ diets.
Researchers developed a “protein variety score” based on consumption from eight categories: whole grains, refined grains, unprocessed red meat, processed red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and legumes. Participants who consumed protein from four or more different sources had a 66 percent lower risk of developing hypertension compared with those whose diets included protein from two or fewer sources.
During the follow-up period, 35 percent of participants developed high blood pressure.
The analysis also identified what researchers described as an optimal range of intake for each protein source. Both very low and very high consumption levels were linked to higher hypertension risk. For unprocessed red meat and poultry, the data showed a U-shaped relationship, meaning moderate intake was associated with lower risk than either extreme. Fish intake appeared to offer benefits up to a certain level, after which the association plateaued. Eggs and legumes showed an L-shaped curve, with higher intake generally linked to lower risk. Refined grain protein intake, by contrast, was associated with increased risk at higher levels.
“The heart health message is that consuming a balanced diet with proteins from various different sources, rather than focusing on a single source of dietary protein, may help to prevent the development of high blood pressure,”
Source: Natural News
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