Scientists from Capital Medical University and other institutions have found that eating leafy greens and beets may help prevent high blood pressure in people who are still healthy.
The study, led by Yingrui Zhang and colleagues, was published in Food & Function.
High blood pressure is a major global health concern.
It occurs when the force of blood pushing against the artery walls becomes too strong, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney problems, and other serious conditions.
Diet is known to play a big role in heart health, and researchers have been particularly interested in how certain nutrients might affect blood pressure.
Inorganic nitrate, a compound found naturally in leafy greens and beets, has been suggested as a potential blood pressure–lowering nutrient.
To explore this idea, the researchers reviewed and analyzed data from 19 previously published studies to see whether inorganic nitrate could help prevent or treat hypertension.
Their analysis showed that in healthy individuals, inorganic nitrate intake led to a small but meaningful reduction in systolic blood pressure, the top number in a blood pressure reading.
However, it did not appear to influence diastolic blood pressure or mean arterial pressure. The findings suggest that inorganic nitrate may support healthy blood pressure levels before hypertension develops.
In contrast, the researchers found no strong evidence that inorganic nitrate lowered blood pressure in people who already had hypertension.
Across all measures—including systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure—there were no significant differences between those who consumed inorganic nitrate and those who did not.
These results indicate that while inorganic nitrate may help with prevention, it is unlikely to be an effective treatment for individuals who already have high blood pressure. More research is needed to fully understand how inorganic nitrate influences cardiovascular health.
Still, incorporating leafy greens and beets into the diet remains a smart health choice. These foods offer a range of nutrients and benefits beyond blood pressure control and are valuable components of a balanced diet.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and 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 plant-based foods could benefit people with high blood pressure.
