High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious health condition that affects millions of people around the world.
It occurs when the force of blood against the walls of the arteries is too high, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.
Fortunately, researchers from the Queen Mary University of London have found a potential solution in an unexpected source: beetroot juice.
Beetroot is a taproot vegetable that is known for its vibrant color and sweet, earthy flavor. It is rich in a variety of nutrients, including folate (vitamin B9), which plays a key role in cell growth and function.
Folate also helps to control damage to blood vessels, which can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Additionally, beets are naturally high in nitrates, which are converted into nitric oxide in the body.
Nitric oxide is a molecule that is essential for many aspects of our health, including vasodilation, which is the widening of blood vessels. This process helps to increase circulation and reduce blood pressure.
Previous studies have shown that a single dose of dietary nitrate can quickly reduce blood pressure in healthy people.
However, researchers from the Queen Mary University of London wanted to see if daily consumption of beetroot juice could provide sustained benefits for people with high blood pressure.
To test this, they conducted a four-week study with 68 patients aged 18 to 85 years who had hypertension.
The patients were divided into two groups: one group drank 250 mL of beetroot juice daily, while the other group drank nitrate-free beetroot juice.
Over the course of the study, the researchers found that the group who drank beetroot juice experienced a significant reduction in blood pressure measured by three different methods.
The average reduction in clinic blood pressure was 7.7/2.4 mm Hg, while 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure was reduced by 7.7/5.2 mm Hg, and home blood pressure was reduced by 8.1/3.8 mm Hg.
Furthermore, the team found that blood vessel function improved by 20%, and arterial stiffness was reduced in the group who drank beetroot juice.
This suggests that daily consumption of beetroot juice could help to improve overall cardiovascular health.
It is worth noting that the researchers found no adverse effects in the group who drank beetroot juice, which suggests that it is a safe and effective way to manage high blood pressure.
These findings could have significant implications for people with hypertension, as beetroot juice is an affordable and readily available option for blood pressure management.
In conclusion, the study conducted by Vikas Kapil et al. provides strong evidence that daily consumption of beetroot juice can help to lower high blood pressure and improve overall cardiovascular health.
While more research is needed to fully understand the long-term benefits of beetroot juice, this study offers hope for people with high blood pressure who are looking for safe and effective ways to manage their condition.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that drinking tea could help lower blood pressure, and long-term use of high blood pressure drugs may cause kidney damage.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about a new way to treat high blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
The research is published in Hypertension and was conducted by Vikas Kapil et al.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
