Drinking a glass of beetroot juice can lower blood pressure, researchers argue in the magazine Hypertension.
The juice lowered the pressure by 10 millimeters of mercury, bringing it back to normal in some of the 15 participants. The effect lasted for three to six hours, although it could even be detected the next day.
Scientists say that the nitrates contained in beetroot roots dilate blood vessels, facilitating blood flow.
Researchers at Barts Health NHS Trust and London Medical School have studied the blood pressure lowering effects of beet for years, but believe more research is needed. They remind you that drinking the juice has unexpected consequences in the form of pink-colored urine.
Nitrates occur naturally in soil, where vegetables collect them and use them for growth. We were surprised how little it takes to achieve such a significant effect, said researcher Dr. Amrita Ahluwalia.
The results support the theory that you should eat a lot of vegetables. However, more research is needed to determine whether a diet with nitrate-rich vegetables reduces blood pressure in the long term, said Prof. Peter Weissberg, director of the British Heart Foundation that funded the study. (PAP)
mrt/ agt/