May 19, 2016 general

We all know that elevated blood pressure is a serious health risk. This week new research was presented to the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Society of Hypertension in New York City (and surprisingly scientists discussed some delicious options for lowering blood pressure). One topic discussed is the growing agreement that blood pressure is safer in a range below 120 mmHg. That’s fine and dandy, but the big question is whether drugs are the best way to accomplish that goal. That is the question I also ask about high cholesterol. In my opinion it seems saner to eliminate the fundamental reasons for the increase in cholesterol rather than to use a pharmaceutical sledge hammer to force it down at all costs. Happily, sometimes remedies can taste good.

• A randomized, cross-over, double-blind, placebo-controlled study fed subjects each day an ounce of Grana Padano, a hard Italian cheese on the order of Parmigiano. The study, which lasted two months, achieved a 7-8 mmHg drop in systolic blood pressure and a 5-7 mmHg drop in diastolic blood pressure—similar to what would be expected from a blood pressure drug! It is believed that the improvement is from peptides (short chains of amino acids) in the cheese that have strong angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor activity.
• Worried about the fat in cheese raising cholesterol? Apparently we needn’t be. Other researchers fed subjects 2.8 ounces per day of 27% fat Gouda-type The study finding: “In conclusion, cholesterol levels did not increase after high intake over 8 weeks’ intervention, and stratified analysis showed that participants with metabolic syndrome had reduced cholesterol at the end of the trial.” (I added the bold.)
• Some studies show that dark chocolate improves blood pressure. Milk chocolate is not quite the same thing and I’m guessing that chocolate-flavored stuff might have the opposite effect. LINK
• I can’t talk about blood pressure without mentioning aged garlic. People get very good results from Kyolic 109.

I have to wonder if part of the positive effect in these trials is related to our good intestinal bacteria. Maybe those little buggers that do so many important functions for us just happen to like cheese, chocolate and garlic. (By the way, I am serious.)

On the less fun side, while we’ve been told that moderate alcohol consumption in healthy persons may reduce blood pressure, a new study shows that it may raise blood pressure in those whose blood pressure is already high.