Whey Protein Powder and Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a huge epidemic in America and is one of the main causes for stroke and heart disease. Many people with high blood pressure take a blood pressure medication prescribed to them by their doctor, but there are natural ways you can reduce your blood pressure without resorting to meds. Studies have shown that whey protein powder can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Risks Associated With High Blood Pressure

The risks associated with high blood pressure are serious and should not be taken lightly by anyone. When your blood pressure is elevated, the force of your blood pushing against your arteries is increased and your circulatory system is working harder to pump blood through your veins. Your risk of blood clots and plaque buildup is much greater, and eventually this can cause you to have a stroke or a heart attack.

Types of Whey Protein

There are two basic types of whey protein: whey isolate and whey concentrate. If you're considering supplementing your diet with whey protein to lower your blood pressure, you should know the difference between the two. Whey isolate is the purer form of whey protein. It is about 90 percent protein and has a higher bioavailability, which means your body can make use of it better. Whey concentrate is only about 70 percent protein and is typically much less expensive than isolate. Both types of whey can reduce your blood pressure, but isolate is the way to go if you can afford it.

Adding Whey Protein to Your Diet

A lot of people assume you have to be an athlete or a bodybuilder to take protein powder, but that simply isn't true. If you're an average individual who simply is looking to lower your blood pressure, all you have to do is replace one of your normal meals with a whey protein shake. One serving of a decent quality whey isolate powder typically has 20 to 25 grams of protein, which is just enough to help you meet your daily needs without pushing you over the amount of protein that is considered healthy for an average person.

Cautions

Some people go overboard with protein powder for various reasons. Most protein powders are very high in protein but very low in calories and fat, so people will assume that if they eat nothing but protein shakes all day they will lose weight, or put on a ton of muscle without any fat. It's not a bad plan until you consider the health risks. Any protein you consume that is not used to build or maintain muscle mass is either converted into glycogen and stored or expelled as waste. Overeating protein can lead to ketosis, kidney damage and block calcium absorption in your kidneys, and even cause your body to suck calcium out of your bones.