A recent study conducted by scientists at Griffith University in Australia has revealed that taking probiotics could help lower the risk of heart disease. Probiotics are live “good” bacteria that support the body’s overall health.
They are known for their benefits in improving digestion, boosting the immune system, and fighting off harmful bacteria in the body. Now, this new research suggests that probiotics may also have a powerful effect on heart health.
Probiotics work by maintaining the body’s microbiome—a collection of good and bad bacteria that live in the digestive system. A healthy balance of these bacteria is important not only for digestion but also for reducing inflammation, boosting immunity, and potentially protecting against diseases like heart disease.
Previous studies have already shown that probiotics can help prevent or treat diarrhea caused by infections or antibiotics, reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and even lessen allergies. But this new study went further by exploring how probiotics affect risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
To understand the impact of probiotics, the researchers analyzed 34 studies involving a total of 2,177 adults. They found that taking probiotics was linked to improvements in several key health markers that are closely tied to heart disease:
The study showed that probiotics helped lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure is the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats, while diastolic blood pressure is the pressure when your heart is at rest. Both are important measures of heart health.
Probiotics were found to reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, which is often referred to as “bad” cholesterol. LDL cholesterol can build up in the walls of arteries, leading to plaque formation and increasing the risk of heart disease.
At the same time, probiotic intake was linked to higher levels of HDL cholesterol, known as “good” cholesterol. HDL cholesterol helps remove bad cholesterol from the bloodstream, carrying it back to the liver where it can be processed and removed from the body.
High blood sugar is another major risk factor for heart disease. The study found that people who took probiotics had lower blood sugar levels, as well as reduced HbA1C, which is a measure of average blood sugar over several months. Keeping blood sugar levels stable is important for preventing damage to blood vessels and the heart.
The research also showed that taking probiotics for longer periods could help reduce BMI, which is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. A high BMI is linked to obesity, which significantly increases the risk of heart disease.
The study revealed that the form of probiotics matters. People who consumed kefir, a fermented milk drink rich in probiotics, or powdered probiotic supplements experienced even greater health benefits.
Additionally, taking probiotics for more than 1.5 months was found to bring about stronger improvements in heart health. This suggests that consistency and duration of probiotic use are important factors for getting the most benefits.
The findings from Griffith University suggest that probiotics could be a simple yet powerful way to support heart health and reduce the risk of heart disease. This is especially important considering that heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
By improving blood pressure, reducing cholesterol, managing blood sugar, and supporting a healthy body weight, probiotics offer a natural way to protect the heart.
If you are interested in improving your heart health with probiotics, here are some easy ways to include them in your daily routine:
Eat More Fermented Foods: Foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and miso are rich in natural probiotics. Adding these to your meals can boost your gut health.
Consider a Probiotic Supplement: If you do not get enough probiotics from food, supplements are widely available. Look for ones that contain different strains of good bacteria for the best results.
Stick with It: The study showed that the benefits of probiotics were stronger after 1.5 months of regular intake. Consistency is key to seeing improvements.
Try Different Forms: If yogurt is not your favorite, consider kefir or a powdered supplement instead. The research suggests that these forms are particularly effective.
The researchers, led by Asher Dixon and published in Current Hypertension Reports, believe that their findings open the door to new ways of preventing heart disease. If probiotics can naturally improve key risk factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, they could become a part of regular heart health care.
Further research is needed to understand exactly how probiotics achieve these benefits, but the results so far are promising. As more studies are conducted, we may see probiotics recommended as part of a heart-healthy lifestyle alongside traditional advice like eating well, exercising, and not smoking.
For those who want to take action now, adding probiotics to your diet might be a simple step towards better heart health. And as the research continues, we may learn even more about how these tiny bacteria can make a big difference in preventing heart disease.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies that black licorice could cause dangerous high blood pressure, and this common plant nutrient could help reduce high blood pressure.
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