Does kefir lower blood pressure?

Kefir, the cultured milk drink made mainly by fermenting milk, is said to be very healthy. That's well known. It owes this reputation to the probiotics it contains, which if they survive the passage through the digestive tract are thought to have a positive effect on the gut.

Kefir is made by adding a kefir grain (kefir fungus, Tibetan mushroom) to cow's, goat's or sheep's milk. The kefir grain contains, in addition to lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and acetic acid bacteria that feed on and break down lactose and other milk components. Depending on the fermentation time and temperature, kefir can become slightly alcoholic (0.2 to 2 percent). In one to two days, fermentation produces the characteristically tangy, mildly carbonated drink.

American and Brazilian researchers investigated whether kefir can also have a lowering effect on the blood pressure. In one study they looked at kefir's effects on their subjects, who were divided into three groups. The subjects were rats. One group received kefir for nine weeks and the other two groups served as controls one with and one without high blood pressure.

The rats that received kefir had lower blood pressure readings and healthier intestines than the control groups after the study period. The permeability of the intestinal wall improved. That means some substances can pass through the gut wall, while other harmful or potentially dangerous substances are held back by the barrier. In addition, kefir appeared to have a positive effect on a certain enzyme in the brain that supports normal nervous system function.

The researchers conclude that kefir may promote the interaction between the nervous system and the gut in order to lower blood pressure. We currently have no information on whether this blood pressurelowering effect also applies to people.

The refreshing drink is very easy to make at home. Ask around among your friends to see if someone can give you a kefir grain. Because the grains feed on milk components, they grow and split into several smaller grains once they reach a certain size. These can then be passed on. For storage, they can also be dried or frozen.

Sources:

This article comes from BloodPressureDB – the leading app since 2011 that helps hundreds of thousands monitor their blood pressure every day. Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 04/2024).

Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care, and has led BloodPressureDB's specialist editorial team since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder and in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides solid, practical and reliably reviewed information.

Does kefir lower blood pressure?

Sources:

Registry: