Eat this affordable Ukrainian food daily - Your blood pressure may drop fast
Photo: Beetroot juice effectively lowers blood pressure (Unsplash)
According to a new study, consuming a few daily servings of vegetable juice may help older adults lower their blood pressure. The Daily Express reveals what affordable vegetable is especially helpful for people with hypertension.
Specifically, the study focuses on beetroot juice, which is rich in nitrates, compounds that play a key role in bodily functions and are linked to lower blood pressure and healthy blood vessel function.
Researchers at the University of Exeter believe that beetroot juice can benefit heart health by triggering changes in the bacteria in the mouth.
How it works: Effect on the oral microbiome
In the study, participants drank regular doses of nitrate-rich beetroot juice, followed by a placebo version with the nitrates removed. When participants consumed the beetroot juice, tests showed a noticeable decrease in Prevotella bacteria in the mouth and an increase in beneficial bacteria such as Neisseria.
"This study shows that nitrate-rich foods alter the oral microbiome in a way that could result in less inflammation, as well as a lowering of blood pressure in older people. This paves the way for larger studies to explore the influence of lifestyle factors and biological sex in how people respond to dietary nitrate supplementation," said Professor Andy Jones, co-author of the study from the University of Exeter.
Study results and recommendations
The study involved 39 adults under the age of 30 and 36 individuals aged 60-70. Each group tested both versions of the beverage for two weeks. Changes in the oral microbiome were observed in both age groups, but blood pressure decreased only in older participants.
Older participants also had a higher average blood pressure at the start of the study, which decreased after consuming the nitrate-rich beetroot juice but not after the placebo.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
