Vegie protein power

People who fill up on vegetables, whole grains and fruit tend to have healthier blood pressure levels than their more carnivorous peers, according to an international study.

The findings, say researchers, bolster recommendations that adults eat more plant-based foods for the sake of their cardiovascular health.

The study found that among 4700 middle-aged adults in four countries, those who ate more vegetable protein - from grains, vegetables, beans and fruit - tended to have lower blood pressure.

Even a small increase in the proportion of calories derived from vegetable protein translated into a dip in blood pressure, according to findings published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Reported by Reuters.