Protein and Blood Pressure Benefits

Hypertension or high blood pressure can either be a condition on its own (primary hypertension) or can come as a symptom of or a byproduct of another condition (secondary hypertension). High blood pressure affects about 27% of American women that are aged eighteen to 74. The number rises with age however and 70% of women ages 65-75 have some level of high blood pressure. The condition affects African American at a higher rate than other ethnicities.

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Hypertension does not tend to present any symptoms until there is a complication- most often these complications are a heart attack, a stroke or kidney disease. Hypertension might also be discovered by monitoring of the blood pressure - any number that is 120/80 to 139/89 is considered to be pre-hypertensive and should be closely watched. Lifestyle changes should be considered and strictly adhered to. These changes include losing weight, exercising and eliminating the other risk factors including smoking and excessive salt intake. Primary hypertension can be controlled with lifestyle and medication but cannot be cured. Secondary hypertension can be eliminated however, by eliminating the underlying cause.

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The diet may be one of the easiest ways to help manage high blood pressure including using the DASH diet, (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) a diet that stresses fruits and vegetables and lowering the amount of meat and fats that are consumed. There are also some studies that show how protein, particularly soy protein and dairy protein can benefit the blood pressure.

The DASH diet includes:

- 7-8 servings of grain or grain products (whole grain)

- 4-5 servings of vegetables a day (1 cup raw and ½ cup cooked)

- 4-5 servings of fruit (6 ounces juice, one medium fruit)

- 2-3 servings of low fat or nonfat dairy products

- 2 or fewer servings of meat per day. (lean meats or fish should be selected)

How Protein May Help

A study has shown that a combination of milk based proteins can reduce salt induced increases in blood pressure. The combination of isoleucine/proline/proline/(IPP) and valine/proline/proline (VPP) with or without plant sterols can help lower the blood pressure following salted foods. These milk tri-peptides allowed a 4.8 point decrease in the systolic numbers and a 2.2 point decrease in diastolic number during the study.

There are currently one billion people in the world that have high blood pressure with that number likely to double by the year 2025.

Other Beneficial Proteins for High Blood Pressure

In addition to the tri-peptides IPP and VPP in milk, there are blood pressure and cardiovascular benefits in soy protein as well as whey protein. For instance, two servings of soy protein, which can be used in place of meat in the diet, can lower the blood pressure as well as lower blood cholesterol up to nine points.

Whey protein, which is a derivative of milk (it is a byproduct of cheese making) has been shown to improve blood vessel function in otherwise healthy people increasing blood flow and improving blood pressure. It is the whey protein derived peptide NOP-47 that improves vascular function.

Getting Enough Protein

The amount of protein that the average person needs will vary depending on weight, age, health and activity level. The American Heart Association recommends that the amount of protein in the average diet be no more than 35% of the overall calories, however your own doctor will let you know what the right amount of protein is for you. The average person should be getting between.5 to.8 grams of protein per kilogram of their body weight, less if they are sedentary and more if they are more active. A body builder may need at least 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of their own body weight.

There are times that the body needs additional protein including during sickness, trauma, burns and after surgery. During these times, it is important that the doctor prescribe a dietary regimen that provides the right amount of nutrition so that optimal health can be reached.

Protein comes from two sources, animal and plants. While it is important to get as much of the daily diet from whole food sources that are as close to their natural state as possible, there are some supplements that can be beneficial to make sure that the right amount of protein is reached. Protein supplements are good as between meal snacks or can serve as meal replacements.

Protein Powders as Meal Replacements

There are four main types of protein powder: whey, rice, soy and egg. It is best to use single protein powders; however there are some that are a combination of two or more of these.

Whey Protein - Whey is the most common type of protein powder with the whey protein concentrate as the cheapest. It is between 30 and 85% protein but can be a problem for those who are lactose intolerant. In addition to high blood pressure benefits, whey can help to stabilize the blood sugar after a meal and is also very beneficial for the immune system. Whey protein isolate has less lactose and may be more tolerable to those with sensitivities. The isolate also has more protein at 90%. Whey protein is one of the most calorie dense protein sources.

Soy Protein - Soy protein powder can also be in isolate and concentrate. Soy protein is highly digestible and is suitable for vegans.

Rice protein - Rice protein is the only protein that is considered to be hypoallergenic and is also suitable for vegans.

Egg Protein - Egg protein powder is made from the whites of the egg and is fat free. Egg protein is considered to be the perfect protein. All of the protein that is available in the egg is digested and used by the body.

Protein Supplements as a Between-Meal Snack

Protein supplements that have smaller calorie counts can be used as a between meal snack- a huge benefit because they can stabilize blood sugar and keep you from feeling hungry from meal to meal, keeping metabolism high and cravings low. Because weight loss is so important to lowering high blood pressure, these benefits can help keep any diet plan on track. These supplements that are used as between-meal snacks should be low in calories but high in protein and other nutrients. There should be a minimum of added ingredients especially excess sugars, but should still be palatable. After all, if you cannot tolerate the taste, it is of no benefit whatsoever.

Protein Bars - A protein bar can serve as a between meal snack however it has to be less than around 200 calories and should have limited sugars added.

Protein and Blood Pressure Benefits

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Protein and Stages One Through Four of Kidney Disease

Over 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease with many millions more at serious risk of developing it. Early detection is vital to keep the disease from progressing from kidney disease to complete kidney failure. The major cause of death for people who have CKD is heart disease usually related to chronic and uncontrolled hypertension. Chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure are linked with one another: hypertension causes CKD and CKD causes hypertension. Excessive amounts of protein in the urine, medically known as proteinuria suggests the presence of CKD

Risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, hypertension, family history and being African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander or Native American. Doctors start suspecting kidney disease with the following warning signs: increased urination, fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea and/or vomiting, swelling of the hands and feet, itchy skin, numbness, drowsiness, trouble concentrating, darker skin color and muscle cramps. Diagnosis is completed by several tests which may include urine albumin and serum creatinine. Blood pressure tests might suggest kidney damage especially in those who are young or have no other risk factors for hypertension.

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CKD tends to develop slowly though, and may have no initial symptoms at all. A person can have both chronic kidney disease and acute kidney disease at the same time. Acute kidney disease is a rapidly progressive loss of renal function with a decrease in urine, body fluid disturbances and electrolyte imbalances will develop and may be caused by a number of other conditions. Acute kidney disease can be more serious than chronic kidney disease because it starts so suddenly, often without any kind of warning before hand. All possible symptoms of kidney disease should be checked by a doctor so that appropriate treatment can be started before the disease can get started.

Chronic kidney disease can be affected by the diet, especially protein intake. When protein is digested and used by the body, it creates waste products. In a healthy kidney, these waste materials are filtered and removed by millions of cells called nephrons. An unhealthy kidney will be unable to filter protein waste which is then backed up into the blood stream. For this reason, the doctors recommend protein intake be decreased especially in the first four stages of the disease. However, stage five will mean a change in the entire diet which is completely opposite of the diet for the first four stages of the disease.

The five stages of chronic kidney disease is based on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), or the amount of blood that the kidneys can filter. Normal, healthy kidneys filter 18 gallons of blood per hour, filtering over half of all of the fluid taken into the body and eliminating about two quarts of urine every day.

- In Stage I of the disease, GFR is 90 or above which is normal, but there will be an abnormal amount of protein in the urine.
- Stage II has a GFR of 60-89.
- Stage III, GFR equals 30-59
- Stage IV, GFR equals 15-29.
- Stage IV is the last stage before dialysis becomes necessary.

During this stage of the disease, excessive amounts of protein will cause nausea and/or vomiting, weakness, a loss of appetite, possible changes in taste and itchiness. At this point, it is important to get good control of the blood pressure and control the amount of protein in the diet. (Diabetics must also maintain blood sugar control).

In the first three stages of chronic kidney disease, the protein intake should be around 12-15% (a commonly accepted amount for most diets). For instance, a typical vegan diet consists of about 10-12% protein.

Once a patient reaches Stage IV of chronic kidney disease the protein intake should drop to ten percent which can, not only be hard to reach but can lead to deficiencies as well and should only be done with the direct advice of the doctor and under a nutritionist's guidance.

Protein comes from two sources in the diet: animals and plant based. Animal protein is the most common source of the nutrient in most diets, however it may increase the level of protein waste products in the blood stream, a serious problem for already struggling kidneys. Some of the most common sources of protein may also increase levels of phosphorous in the system to an unsafe level. These include milk, yogurt and cheese. Several plant proteins also increase this mineral and includes dried beans, peas, nuts and seeds.

Vegetarian protein may slow the progression of chronic kidney disease, within reason. The primary goals of a plant based diet:

- To get appropriate protein needs while minimizing waste products building up in the bloodstream.
- To maintain sodium, potassium and phosphorous balance.
- To make sure there is good nutrition so that optimal health level can be reached and maintained.

Protein is needed in the body, even in light of chronic kidney disease. Next to water, it is the most plentiful substance in the body and even though it is restricted, it is still necessary. Protein is used to create and maintain lean muscle mass, it is also necessary to regulate digestion, sleep and ovulation as well as playing an important role in the central nervous system.

Protein also plays a role in keeping fluid levels in balance which is very important especially if there is nausea and vomiting. If the kidneys are not functioning well, there might be a fluid restriction imposed as well as a limit on protein.

Why Protein Supplements Might Be Beneficial

Drinking a protein shake or a liquid protein supplement shot might be easier on the body than trying to eat a meal would be, especially if the patient is feeling ill. Supplements also have more easily digestible protein than other options which may in turn lead to fewer protein wastes in the blood stream. A good protein supplement:

- Should have the right amount of protein to be within the established diet
- Should have high quality protein and other nutrients
- Should be free from other ingredients that might be considered harmful in the diet
- Should be palatable, in appealing flavors

Protein supplements should be discussed with the doctor before they are added to the diet. Diabetics, especially have some concerns that they must keep in mind when choosing a protein supplement in addition to the protein restrictions that they must follow. There are some brands of protein supplements that are specifically designed for the diabetic.

Protein and Stages One Through Four of Kidney Disease

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