Here’s another reason to add more veggies to your diet: They may lower systolic (top number) blood pressure readings, according to an international study. Researchers studied 4,680 men and women between the ages of 40 and 59. They found that getting about 5 percent more total dietary protein from vegetables, beans, whole grains, and tofu high in glutamic acid was associated with a reduction in systolic blood pressure by 1.5 to 2.5 mm Hg. According to the researchers, reducing blood pressure even by such small amounts could cut stroke deaths by 6 percent and lower coronary heart disease deaths by 4 percent.
Source: Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, published online July 6, 2009