A TV doctor has explained what people should be drinking to lower their blood pressure. Speaking on ITV ’s Lorraine Dr Amir Khan explained that people with hypertension could see a real improvement with beetroot juice.
Hypertension or high blood pressure is when the pressure in your blood vessels is too high (140/90 mmHg or higher). It is common but can be serious if not treated and has been described as a ‘silent killer’ because people frequently don’t know they have it until a serious problem happens.
Dr Khan, who works in the NHS said: “I’m a big fan of this one, beetroot juice. So this is all about managing your blood pressure. It’s actually quite nice. So it’s about managing your blood pressure. Things like reducing salt and eating more bananas are good for your blood pressure, but beetroot juice contains something called nitrates, which are converted to nitric oxide by our body, which widens our blood vessels, which lowers our blood pressure and keeps the cells inside of our blood vessels healthy as well. About 250 ML a day is what’s recommended. Be careful if you’re diabetics it can push your blood sugars up.”
A daily 250ml glass of beetroot juice may help to lower blood pressure, according to scientists, and a test found that it brought down people with hypertension to normal levels in just four weeks. It also discovered that when people doing the trial stopped drinking it, their blood pressure returned to the same level. The Times reported that a team of researchers at Queen Mary University of London found it contains inorganic dietary nitrates in high quantities.
These are converted by the body to nitrite then nitric oxide, which relaxes and widens blood vessels – so beetroot is known to have potent effects on blood pressure and cardiovascular health.
In the university’s study, a group of patients diagnosed with or at risk of hypertension were asked to take a daily drink for four weeks. Half of them were given beetroot juice and the other half a placebo that looked and tasted the same. By the end of the trial, the results of which were published in Hypertension, the beetroot juice drinkers had experienced a decrease in blood pressure that brought their blood pressure back into the “normal” range.
In the two weeks after the study, when they had stopped drinking the beetroot juice, their blood pressure returned to the previous high levels, suggesting you need to keep up your intake of nitrates for long-term benefits.
Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London and co-founder of the health App Zoe, recently spoke out on Instagram about how the incredible benefits of beetroot for circulation. Prof Spector said one of the beneficial chemicals it contains is polyphenol, which is excellent for reducing inflammation, and also nitrates, which are very important for improving blood flow by increasing the size of blood vessels – which is good for athletic performance and lowering blood pressure.
Prof Spector said: “Beetroot was the favourite symbol in Roman brothels. They have lots of good health properties. They contain a defence chemical polyphenol called betaine, which is quite unique and is really good for inflammation. And they contain the precursors of nitric oxide, which is a gas that is important for the change in our blood vessels.”
Diet and health expert Michael Mosley, who sadly died earlier this year has spoken about ‘powerhouse’ beetroots previously and said: “Beetroots are particularly rich in nitrates. The nitrates are converted by the bacteria in your saliva into nitric oxide and of course that causes the expansion in your blood vessels and therefore greater blood flow to your extremities.
“Love it or hate it, this purple powerhouse has been shown in clinical trials to be an effective way to reduce blood pressure and also improve athletic performance. It’s also packed with inflammation-reducing antioxidants, making it ideal for anyone concerned about heart health.”