Almost 60 million people in America have hypertension, about 55% of Americans from 65 to 74 years old and about 72% of the American blacks at the same age.
Hypertension is one of the greatest risks for heart attack or stroke.
Some studies claim that beet juice can significantly reduce the blood pressure and prevent a stroke.
Background Information:
Beet juice was used as an important folk remedy for centuries. Its primary use was for liver problems but recently it was recognized as an important remedy for cancer and heart issues.
Its betacyanin that gives the beets their rich, purple-crimson color. It is a powerful anti-cancer agent whose effects are highly beneficial for the heart and the vascular system.
The studies indicate that:
- It lowers blood pressure within one hour while the peak drop is after 3-4 hours after the intake.
- About 16 ounces a day of fresh beet juice will significantly reduce hypertension by up to 100 mm Hg.
- The dietary nitrates in the juice form nitrite, a chemical formation that lowers blood pressure.
- Nitrites can convert to nitric oxide, a potent dilator of blood vessels that will lower the blood pressure.
- Beet juice will increase the level of blood nitrite more than eating nitrate-rich food.
New data:
The Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute from Australia, conducted a research with 15 men and 15 women. They drank 17.6-oz beet juice beverage with 500 g of beet and apple juice (72 % beet and 28% apple) or a placebo. The participants measured their blood pressure using an ambulatory blood pressure monitor, every hour for 24 hours.
This procedure was repeated after two weeks so those who drank the placebo on the first round, drank beet juice on the second one. The results showed a decrease in the systolic blood pressure to those people who drank beet juice. In this was the beet juice reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes by about 10% or more precisely about 60,000 lives saved each year in America.
Via healthline
