Yakult, containing the probiotic Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota, might have a modest, beneficial effect on blood pressure, especially in those with hypertension, by improving gut health and potentially producing blood pressure-lowering compounds like GABA, though research shows mixed results, suggesting it's more of a healthy lifestyle support than a direct treatment, with effects varying by probiotic strain, dosage, and individual health.
Researchers at Yakult have previously reported findings showing that a fermented milk product containing the amino acid may lower blood pressure in people with mild hypertension.
Eating food that contains probiotics—consumable live bacteria—has been linked to healthier blood pressure in previous studies.
Cardiologists warn against probiotics for heart patients due to risks like infections (endocarditis) in vulnerable individuals, potential negative interactions with heart medications, and the lack of strong human data proving consistent cardiovascular benefits, with some early concerns even showing increased mortality in critically ill patients. While probiotics show promise for gut-heart axis health, they pose risks, especially for immunocompromised patients or those with underlying heart conditions, necessitating doctor supervision.
Supplements that you should avoid if you have high blood pressure include:
Always choose a high quality, well researched probiotic supplement containing strains researched for cholesterol maintenance and heart health, such as:
Cardiologists generally advise avoiding processed meats, sugary drinks and sweets, and foods high in trans fats and sodium, like most fried foods and salty snacks, because they raise bad cholesterol, blood pressure, and inflammation, significantly increasing heart disease risk. Focusing on whole foods and limiting these culprits is key for heart health.
The abundance of the gut microbes, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, is associated with increased blood pressure in several models of hypertension, including the spontaneously hypertensive and Dahl salt-sensitive rats.
There's a small risk of adverse side effects for people with weaker immune systems. This includes people taking immunosuppressant drugs, people with critical illnesses and infants who've been born prematurely. The risk is that a probiotic product might contain a harmful type of microbe along with the helpful types.
Physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet, and some medical conditions, including diabetes, can increase your risk for high blood pressure. Behaviors, such as drinking too much alcohol and using tobacco, can also increase your risk for high blood pressure.
To lower blood pressure, adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle with regular exercise (like brisk walking, swimming), a diet low in salt and rich in fruits, veggies, whole grains (DASH diet principles), and potassium (bananas, spinach), maintain a healthy weight, stop smoking, limit alcohol, manage stress, and get enough sleep; for many, medication is also necessary, so consult your doctor.
Yakult is a fermented dairy product containing small amounts of naturally-occurring milk sugar (lactose). Lactose intolerant individuals who may safely consume yogurt, may also enjoy Yakult. Those who have more severe lactose intolerance may be unable to drink Yakult.
If you have questions about your health, always contact a health care professional. Eating probiotics regularly may modestly improve your blood pressure, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension.
But we thought we'd share what we learned in case you're looking to make some changes to your drink routine.
Sudden high blood pressure (hypertension) often signals an underlying issue like severe stress, medications (decongestants, birth control), stimulants (caffeine, illegal drugs), sleep apnea, kidney problems, thyroid issues, or sudden heavy alcohol intake, sometimes called secondary hypertension. While stress causes temporary spikes, rapid, sustained rises need urgent medical attention, as they can indicate a dangerous condition.
Subgroup analysis displayed that probiotics supplementation significantly reduced HR by 2.94 bpm (95% CI: −5.06, −0.82) among participants with baseline HR ≥ 75 bpm, by 1.17 bpm (95% CI: −2.34, −0.00) with probiotics dose ≥1 × 1010 CFU/day, and by 1.43 bpm (95% CI: −2.69, −0.17) with multiple-strain intervention.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may provoke cardiovascular disease. Many factors are involved in the development of essential hypertension, but whether GERD has a role needs further study.
Among foods that contribute to clogged arteries are:
Why do some cardiologists say not to eat blueberries for breakfast? Some cardiologists worry about blueberries' sugar and how they might affect blood sugar. But, it's not a reason to avoid them completely.
Heart-healthy drinks (other than water)
What are the best probiotic strains for older adults?
The less you sleep, the higher your blood pressure may go. People who sleep six hours or less may have steeper increases in blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, not sleeping well may make your blood pressure worse.
The DASH diet is low in salt and rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean protein. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The diet was first created to help lower high blood pressure.