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Adding more yogurt to your diet and cooking with a combination of sesame and rice bran oils may decrease the risk of developing high blood pressure, says a study presented at the American Heart Association's High Blood Pressure Research 2012 Scientific Sessions.

In a 15 year long study involving more than 2,000 participants who did not have high blood pressure to begin with, researchers found that long-term yogurt eaters were 31 percent less likely to contract high blood pressure if at least 2 percent of their daily caloric intake came from the creamy concoction, similar to eating one 6 ounce cup of yogurt every three days...not so hard, right?

The study also showed that their systolic pressure was, on average, lower than those who did not eat yogurt, though the latter group studied also did not have high blood pressure.

A separate study also presented at the scientific sessions adds that people who cooked with a blend of sesame and rice bran oils saw a significant drop in blood pressure and improved cholesterol levels

Devarajan Sankar, M.D, Ph.D., a research scientist in the Department of Cardiovascular Disease at Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital in Chikushino, Japan explains:

"Rice bran oil, like sesame oil, is low in saturated fat and appears to improve a patient's cholesterol profile [...] "Additionally, it may reduce heart disease risk in other ways, including being a substitute for less healthy oils and fats in the diet."

a large group of participants with an average age of 57 and who had high blood pressure were broken up into three factions; the first group was given regular blood pressure medication, the second was given a bottled blend of these oils and were told to use an ounce each day, adding it to their meals as they so chose, and the third was given both the medication and the oils.

Results showed that those taking just the oils saw an average of a 14 point drop in their systolic pressure, two points less than those taking medication. Those using both saw a surprising 36-point drop.

The results also showed no change in cholesterol for those using the medication but those using just oils experienced a 26 percent drop in their LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and a 9.5 percent increase in the HDL ("good" cholesterol). The final group again came out on top with a 27 percent drop in LDL levels and a 10.9 percent increase in the HDL.

"Healthier fatty acids and antioxidants, such as sesamin, sesamol, sesamolin and oryzanol, in the oil blends may be responsible for the results," Sankar said.

Although the results were promising, blending the oils yourself may not produce the same affects. Unfortunately, researchers say that there are no plans to market the blend commercially just yet.