A new study from scientists at King’s College London has found that drinking grapefruit juice could make the blood pressure-lowering effects of beetroot juice even stronger. This discovery could offer a simple way to help people better manage their blood pressure naturally.
Beets are already known to be very healthy. They are rich in folate, a nutrient that helps protect blood vessels and lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Beets are also packed with natural nitrates, which help relax and widen blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow and lowering blood pressure. In fact, earlier studies have shown that drinking beetroot juice can reduce blood pressure because of these nitrates.
Grapefruit is another healthy fruit. It is low in calories and full of important nutrients like vitamins A and C. It also has a low glycemic index, meaning it won’t cause big spikes in blood sugar levels. Grapefruit contains fiber, potassium, vitamin C, lycopene, and choline, all of which can support heart health.
In this new study, researchers wanted to see if grapefruit juice could help beetroot juice lower blood pressure even more. Some earlier research had suggested that grapefruit juice might slow down the body’s processing of nitrates, which could change how effective beetroot juice is.
To test this, the scientists gave 11 healthy volunteers three different drink combinations on different days. One group drank active beetroot juice and grapefruit juice. Another group drank active beetroot juice with water. The third group had a placebo, meaning no beetroot juice.
The results were interesting. The group that drank both beetroot juice and grapefruit juice had a bigger drop in their systolic blood pressure — the top number in a blood pressure reading, which measures the pressure when the heart beats. They also had a bigger drop in pulse pressure, which is the difference between the top and bottom numbers.
Specifically, two and a half hours after drinking the combination, systolic blood pressure dropped by 4.2 mmHg. Five hours after drinking it, it was still 3.3 mmHg lower. These results suggest that grapefruit juice helps beetroot juice work even better to lower blood pressure, even though it slightly reduced the levels of nitrite in the blood.
The researchers say that although the study only had a small number of participants, the findings are promising. However, they also remind people to be careful with grapefruit juice because it can interact with some medications. Anyone thinking about drinking a lot of grapefruit juice should talk to their doctor first.
Managing blood pressure through diet is very important. Eating more fruits and vegetables, cutting back on salt, choosing whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal, and eating lean proteins like chicken, fish, beans, and lentils can all help lower blood pressure.
One diet plan that has been proven to help is the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), which focuses on healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy, while limiting salt, unhealthy fats, and added sugars.
Other recent studies have found that blackcurrants might improve artery function and lower blood pressure in older adults, and that eating meals earlier in the day could help with weight loss and blood pressure control. Research also shows that zinc may lower the risk of death from heart disease, and that keeping blood pressure tightly controlled can protect the heart muscle from damage.
This study about beetroot and grapefruit juice was conducted by Kevin O’Gallagher and his team and published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. It adds to the growing list of simple dietary choices that could help people protect their heart health in the future.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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