Lower Blood PressureLower Blood Pressure – Chicken Soup for The Heart
I read some interesting research lately that I want to share related to chicken and blood pressure.
I’m not recommending you eat more chicken soup to lower your blood pressure.
We know that blood pressure is a significant risk factor for heart disease and stroke. It’s estimated that around 1 billion people worldwide live with high blood pressure. Being able to control high blood pressure through food selection is very important.
The collagen in chicken is being researched for use as a blood pressure medication, with actions similar to ACE inhibitors (i.e. lisinopril). Japanese studies have found 4 proteins in the chicken that contain collagen with actions similar to the blood pressure medication when tested in rats.
What are ACE inhibitors?
ACE inhibitors are a common class of blood pressure medications. They work by relaxing blood vessels, which makes it easier for the heart to pump blood and lowers blood pressure.
Chicken legs and feet contain more collagen than chicken breast meat. FYI, the legs and feet are the yellow part of a chicken with a nail on the end. A “chicken collagen hydrolysate” was prepared in the study and fed to rats, and the effects on blood pressure were examined. The rats showed a drop in blood pressure 4 hours after receiving the mixture orally, with the lowest blood pressure reading after 8 hours. Long term studies showed improved blood pressure after one week of treatment, with a significant reduction after 2 weeks.
The study states that the “chicken collagen hydrolysate” mixture used in the study is composed of foods that can be easily added to a typical daily diet. For individuals with high blood pressure, increasing intake of these foods will promote a normal blood pressure. What I want to know: who is going to eat a chicken leg or foot? How do the researchers think that will become a normal part of the diet? My question wasn’t answered in the study results! I’m thinking it’ll be made into a food additive that will allow certain foods to be marketed as “functional” for blood pressure reduction, but we’ll have to wait and see.
The title of this post was just to catch your attention. I’m not recommending you eat more chicken soup to lower your blood pressure. Way too much sodium added to soup for it to be beneficial!
The three minerals that lower blood pressure
All the best,
Lisa Nelson, RD
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