Soy and Milk Protein Lower Blood Pressure

You have pre-hypertension if your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 139/89 and stage 1 hypertension when your blood pressure reaches 140/90. Higher protein intake is associated with lower blood pressure, but there is no evidence that this is a cause and effect relationship. A study from the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine found that eating either 40 grams per day of soy protein or milk protein for 8 weeks reduced systolic blood pressure (highest blood pressure number) by about 2 mmHg. There were also small decreases in diastolic pressure (lower blood pressure number). Partially replacing carbohydrate in the diet with protein has a small effect on reducing blood pressure in people with pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension. (Circulation, 124: 589–595)