The gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in overall wellbeing. Along with digestive health, it affects everything from your mood, to your skin, to your immunity. But did you know that this complex system also helps regulate blood pressure?
Why Blood Pressure Matters
Maintaining healthy blood pressure is crucial if you want to lead a long life.
High blood pressure (hypertension) is typically the result of obesity, lack of regular physical activity, insufficient fibre intake, stress, excessive caffeine, smoking, or too much salt in the diet. It comes with a plethora of health risks ranging from headaches and chest pain to serious complications such as heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, eye problems, and dementia.
Low blood pressure (hypotension) can be caused by both emotional distress or lifestyle factors. Some of the more common triggers are fear, stress, pain, dehydration, diabetes, and heart problems. If untreated, sufferers may experience blurry vision, confusion, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, and weakness. Fainting may also occur, which can lead to severe injury or even death.
Healthy blood pressure is defined as an SBP value (the ‘top’ number when taking a measurement) of below 120, with a DBP value (the ‘bottom’ number) of below 80. These reflect the pressure inside your heart when it contracts and when it’s relaxed, respectively.
Probiotics and Blood Pressure
Amongst the surge in scientific interest in the gut microbiome has come increased research into how it impacts blood pressure.
One 2014 meta-analysis published by the American Heart Association aimed to determine how probiotic (‘good’ bacteria) supplementation influences this important biomarker. It found that “...consuming probiotics could significantly reduce SBP by 3.56 mm Hg and DBP by 2.38 mm Hg. The reduction in BP [blood pressure] reported by the current meta-analysis was similar to that reported in a recent meta-analysis of salt reduction of <2 g per day and resistance training”.
A 2017 review - Antihypertensive Effects of Probiotics - came to a similar finding, with authors stating “The meta-analysis of the human studies supports that supplementation with probiotics reduces blood pressure”.
Researchers at Griffith University corroborated this assertion after examining fourteen studies published between 2002 and 2019, adding that they also found probiotics to have “a beneficial effect in reducing BMI and blood glucose”.
How Does Healthy Gut Bacteria Improve Blood Pressure?
Given the above information, there’s clearly a strong link between gut health and optimal blood pressure. This is true both for hypertension as well as diabetes-induced hypotension.
Though these benefits of probiotics are well established, the mechanisms by which they work are less understood.
One study attributed their positive effect on blood pressure to their ability to improve the concentration of blood cholesterol. It specifically cited reduction in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides levels. The study also pointed to “...an increase in the absorption of nutrients and phytoestrogens (which can act as vasodilatory factors) and a reduction in plasma glucose and the onset of inflammatory-induced diabetes mellitus…”.
Others have credited microbiome health with tempering biological responses to stress, which helps keep blood pressure within normal levels.
It’s likely that probiotic supplementation regulates blood pressure via a combination of these and other pathways.
How Biotica Water Can Help
With the perfect balance of probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics, Biotica Water is specifically designed to improve gut health.
Each bottle contains 1 billion colony-forming units of Bacillus Subtilis - a highly-studied strain of good bacteria known for its durability and health-promoting properties. It’s fueled by prebiotic fibre derived from chicory root, which allows the probiotic to thrive and impart maximum benefit. This in turn nourishes the digestive system with postbiotics such as B-complex vitamins and vitamin K.
Along with the unique Bio-az formulation, all Biotica Water products are entirely plant-based, gluten free, allergen free, and sugar free. They’re available in four delicious, all-natural flavours, including Plain, Lemon Myrtle and Yuzu, Cucumber and Mint, and Pomegranate.
Order a one-off purchase or subscription now to start enjoying the ‘happy gut feeling’ of Biotica Water.
NOTE: The information contained herein and on other pages of the Biotica Water website is general in nature and does not constitute specific medical advice. Be sure to consult with a medical professional before altering your diet or if you experience any of the symptoms associated with low or high blood pressure.