Plant-Based Amino Acids Linked To Low Blood Pressure

We can thank researchers at East Anglia University  for some good news about the healthful effects of amino acids. When the researchers looked at the influence of seven amino acids on cardiovascular health among almost 2,000 women with a healthy BMI, they found that more amino acids from plant-based sources was associated with lower blood pressure, and more from animal sources was associated with lower levels of arterial stiffness–both good things. Actually, all seven amino acids, –arginine, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, leucine, and tyrosine– were associated with low blood pressure, but the plant-based proteins seemed to be more potent. (Glutamic acid, leucine, and tyrosine are found in animal sources.)  How potent were they? The researchers found that amino acids influence blood pressure as much as salt, physical activity and alcohol consumption. For arterial stiffness, the association was similar to not smoking. More about which foods provide which amino acids.