Beetroot juice may beat high blood pressure
The Romans reportedly used beetroot for treating fevers and constipation. During the Middle Ages, the vegetable was favored for curing digestive and blood disorders. Today, science is catching up with ancient and historic practices. Researchers have found that beetroot juice can lower blood pressure in people with hypertension.
The body takes the nitrate found in beets and changes it into nitric oxide, a natural chemical in the body. Nitric oxide is known to have a beneficial effect on the lining inside blood vessels.
“It causes the vessels to open up, thereby improving blood flow and lowering pressure.” says Dr. Marc Silver, a cardiologist specializing in heart failure at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill.
During the six week study, patients on drug therapy for high blood pressure and individuals not currently taking medication, were divided into two treatment groups, with one group receiving beetroot juice and the other a placebo juice.
Researchers found that those drinking the beetroot juice had reduced blood pressure measurements just one week after beginning the study. During the final week of the study the participants’ blood pressure was at their lowest point.
“The drop in blood pressure among study participants consuming beetroot juice was as good or better as the results we see from standard blood pressure medications,” says Dr. Silver. “The study demonstrates that use of dietary nitrate can be an affordable and readily available adjunct to traditional treatment for high blood pressure.”
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health enews staff is a group of experienced writers from our Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care sites, which also includes freelance or intern writers.
I’m going to start drinking this – provided it’s palatable!
Just mix it into a smoothie or look up some drink receipes online for taste
Ick. Never liked beets, but I guess I could learn to if I needed it!
Does eating beets provide the same benefits?