To investigate the relationship of food intake habits and dietary patterns to blood pressure, a cross-sectional study was conducted for 473 middle-aged Japanese males. After adjustment for age, residence, occupation, body mass index and alcohol consumption, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were inversely associated with each intake frequency of dairy products, coffee, fruits, egg, beef, pork and chicken. The adjusted mean SBP and DBP of the individuals with 'all (= three)' of the following three dietary habits; 'once and over/wk of dairy products', 'once and over/wk of fruits', and 'three times and over/wk of beef, pork or chicken', were 7.4 mmHg and 6.9 mmHg lower (p < 0.001, for each) than those of 'zero or one' group. According to the analyses on 3-days weighed food records of 157 volunteers, the adjusted mean daily intake of total protein, animal protein and potassium were markedly higher in the 'two' or the 'three' group than in the 'zero or one' group (p < 0.05, for each). These results suggest that habitual intake of dairy products, fruits, and meat or chicken may be associated with the reduction of blood pressure possibly through the intake of protein and potassium.