The Paleo Diet
has earned protein a reputation as a powerful weight-loss tool — but as
it turns out, the nutrient is good for more than whittling your
waistline. People who consume a high amount of protein tend to have a
lower risk of high blood pressure, according to a new Boston University
study published in the American Journal of Hypertension.
The researchers tracked 1,361 people’s blood pressure for an average of 11.3 years and found that those who consumed the most protein —
about 102 grams per day, from both plant and animal sources —
consistently logged the lowest blood pressure. The high-protein group
also had a 40 percent lower risk of developing hypertension over the
course of the study, compared to people who consumed the least protein,
about 58 grams per day.
And it’s not just because people
who pack in protein are gym rats: The blood pressure of both those
considered overweight and those considered normal-weight people’s blood
pressure benefited when they consumed higher amounts of the nutrient.
