High blood pressure is a common condition that affects more than 25 per cent of all adults in the UK. The condition, which is also known as hypertension, could be caused by not doing enough exercise, or by eating an unhealthy diet.
You could lower your chances of developing high blood pressure by regularly drinking beetroot juice, it’s been claimed.
The vegetable juice is a powerful and natural remedy for avoiding hypertension, according to registered nutritionist Dr Sarah Brewer.
Beetroot contains potassium and magnesium, which both have blood pressure-lowering effects.
But, it’s the high nitrate content that particularly works wonders for high blood pressure patients.
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Just a single glass of beetroot juice everyday could lower your blood pressure by as much as 7.7/5.2mmHg within four weeks, scientists have revealed.
Blood vessels’ ability to dilate improves by around 20 per cent, and arterial stiffness is reduced.
Essentially, that means that regularly drinking beetroot juice can improve the elasticity of arterial walls, she said.
For the best hypertensive benefits, try swilling the juice around in your mouth before swallowing.
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“Beetroot juice, or beet juice, is one of the most powerful natural remedies for high blood pressure,” Dr Brewer wrote on her website, mylowerbloodpressure.com.
“In fact, beet juice is more effective at lowering high blood pressure than many prescribed medical treatments.
“Beets and beet juice contain minerals such as potassium and magnesium which have blood pressure lowering effects.
“But the main pharmacological action that accounts for the ability of beets and beet juice to lower blood pressure is their high content of nitrates.”
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“Concentrated beetroot juice is now also available which you can dilute a small amount [eg 30ml] with water to make it easier to drink a glass a day.
“While most research has involved beet juice itself, you can obtain a similar amount of nitrates from eating 100g cooked or grated raw beetroot as are found in 250ml beetroot juice.”
Nitrates in beetroot juice are converted into nitrites by bacteria that live on the tongue and in saliva.
These nitrites are absorbed into your circulatory system, where they’re converted into a gas; nitric oxide.
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It’s this gas that has a relaxation effect on blood vessels, which subsequently lowers blood pressure.
Meanwhile, you could also lower your blood pressure by cutting back on the amount of salt in your diet.
Everyone should aim to eat less than 6g of salt in a single day – the equivalent to about a teaspoonful.
Speak to a doctor or a pharmacist to have your blood pressure checked. Everyone over 40 years old should check their blood pressure at least once every five years.
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