Is This the Key to Heart Health?

Is This the Key to Heart Health?

The Surprising Key to Better Heart Health Could Be Hidden in Plain Sight

(AscendHealthy.com) – Some folks absolutely adore dairy products. Milk, cheese, yogurt and even buttermilk are among the products that some people thrive on. As it turns out, those dairy products in our fridges might be just what our hearts need to stay healthy.

The Key to a Healthy Heart Could Already Be in Your Kitchen

More than 34 million people in the US have diabetes, and nearly half of the population have blood pressure readings that are too high. Naturally, the goal is to reduce those numbers significantly, so more people might live longer, healthier lives. According to a new study, one of the ways to do that might be linked to the consumption of dairy products.

The 2020 study, published in the journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, looked at more than 147,000 people from 21 different countries. It concluded that a higher intake of dairy correlated with a lower risk of high blood pressure and diabetes.

The type of dairy also made a difference. Participants who consumed whole-fat dairy products were found to have the greatest benefits. Metabolic syndrome rates reduced in participants in this study, as well, which might indicate a reduction in the risk for heart disease.

Lower Fat Doesn’t Always Mean Better Health

The study’s results could seem counterintuitive, as most people have been taught that lower-fat options are safer and healthier. But researchers say that’s not always the case. One of the co-authors of the study stated that the fat from dairy provides a wide range of helpful nutrients, including a number of vitamins and minerals.

The next goal for researchers will be determining exactly how dairy may protect against high blood pressure and diabetes because that information is not yet clear. Large, long-term trials will be needed to collect more information, in the hope of determining whether the findings in the study hold true for larger groups across longer periods of time.

What Can You Do Now to Help Protect Your Heart?

In order to protect your heart and lower your risk of high blood pressure and diabetes, experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend being active, staying in a healthy weight range and quitting smoking. But if you like dairy products and you don’t have allergies to them, the authors of the study suggest that eating full-fat dairy products may be another way to help protect your long-term health.

This new research may help pave the way to more breakthroughs on heart health. In the meantime, consider making changes to your diet. If you have any questions about adding dairy, diet, or exercise, it’s always a good practice to consult with your healthcare provider.

~Here’s to Your Healthy Ascension

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