Whey protein has been found to contain an ACE inhibitory peptide, which blocks the enzymatic conversion of angiotensin I to vasoconstrictive angiotensin II and lowers blood pressure. This has become an established principle in the treatment of hypertension in clinical medicine. A study conducted by nutritional biochemist Susan Fluegel and published in the International Dairy Journal found that consuming 30 grams of whey protein daily for 12 weeks resulted in significantly lower blood pressure, as well as body fat loss and smaller waist sizes. Washington State University researchers also discovered that beverages supplemented with whey-based proteins can significantly reduce high blood pressure and the risk of strokes and heart disease.
The blood pressure-lowering effects of serum were also related to the loss of body fat. Ginger Hultin, MS, RDN, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, states that while most studies on whey protein and its effect on blood pressure are small and the results have been mixed, there is some evidence that whey protein may help lower blood pressure. Both whey and casein also improved blood vessel function, as well as minor improvements in blood cholesterol levels. Kate Patton, MEd, RD, a nutritionist at the Cleveland Clinic, recommends eating 20 to 56 grams per day if you're looking to lower your blood pressure with whey protein.
The participants in the Washington State University study drank two shakes a day that contained whey, casein (another milk protein) or maltodextrin (a carbohydrate that served as a control). Consuming 56 grams a day of whey protein caused an approximately 3-point drop in systolic blood pressure (the first number in a blood pressure reading) and a 2-point drop in diastolic blood pressure (the second number) compared to the control group. If you find that whey protein helps lower your blood pressure, make sure it doesn't drop too low and that dietary changes and supplements don't worsen the effectiveness of medications. Babies are also less likely to have allergic reactions to dairy products and to develop atomic dermatitis (eczema) when given hydrolyzed whey protein. Many athletes and bodybuilders use whey protein to help them build muscle mass, although the evidence for this benefit isn't very strong. The evaporation of this liquid creates whey protein powder, a popular supplement among athletes and bodybuilders for building muscle mass (despite the lack of evidence to support this claim).
