Need an incentive to drink your milk? A new study suggests that consuming low-fat dairy products may lower blood pressure. One in three Americans has high blood pressure, which can cause heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. The research, published in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension, was based on data collected from questionnaires filled out by 4,797 participants of the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute’s Family Study. The participants were placed into four groups based on the amount of dairy products they consumed. Those eating the most dairy ate more than three servings per day, while those consuming the least averaged less than half a serving per day.

The systolic blood pressure of people who ate the most dairy was 2.6 points lower than those who ate the least. Systolic blood pressure is the top number in a blood-pressure reading, and is the measure taken as the heart contracts. Systolic blood pressure is seen as a predictor of cardiovascular disease. The higher the number, the greater the risk.

When the groups were divided into those who ate a diet low in saturated fat and those who ate a high-saturated-fat diet, the beneficial effects of high-dairy consumption was evident only in those eating a low-saturated fat diet. Their systolic pressure was 3.5 points lower than those who ate the fewest dairy products.

What is it about dairy products? Calcium could well be the key, but potassium and magnesium, which are also present in dairy products, are also associated with lowering blood pressure.

Low Fat Dairy Recipes

• Yogurt-Granola Parfait
• Strawberry-Mango Buttermilk Smoothie
• Banana-Mango Smoothie
• Peach and Blueberry Smoothie
• Fat-Free Crème Brûlée
• Low-Fat Summer Cheesecake

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