A high blood pressure reading is 140/90mmHg, but even pre-hypertension is risky, which has a reading above 120/80mmHg. One red drink, however, could have a beneficial impact. Published in the journal Hypertension, researchers reported that drinking one cup of red beet juice led to lower blood pressure. There were 68 hypertension patients involved in the research project that went on for four weeks.
However, “within 24 hours”, positive improvements were already seen in the group tasked with drinking beet juice.
Every day of the clinical trial, participants either consumed 250ml of nitrate-rich beetroot juice or the placebo, a nitrate-free beetroot juice.
After two weeks, followed by a two-week washout period, the participants swapped the juices they consumed.
Daily supplementation of dietary nitrate-rich beetroot juice was associated with a reduction in blood pressure.
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Clinical blood pressure readings, on average, reduced by 2.4mmHg throughout the trial.
Home blood pressure readings were even further reduced by an average of 3.8mmHg.
And even “24-hour ambulatory blood pressure was reduced by 5.2mmHg”, the researchers noted.
Endothelial function also improved by 20 percent and arterial stiffness reduced after nitrate consumption.
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The intervention was “well tolerated” by participants, meaning no dire side effects were recorded.
Evidence also shows that the consumption of nitrate-rich beetroot juice had a beneficial impact on short-term and long-term blood pressure readings.
“These findings suggest a role for dietary nitrate as an affordable, readily-available, adjunctive treatment in the management of patients with hypertension,” the researchers noted.
The research project was funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) charity.
This can help you to achieve a healthy weight for your build and height.
“For some people, losing weight is all they need to do to get their blood pressure down to a normal level,” the BHF elaborated.
Moreover, when it comes to dietary choices, you will need to cut down on salt and alcohol.
However, you must also ensure you eat the healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables.
