Beet Juice May Help Older Hearts Stay Healthy

Quick Smiles:

• Beetroot juice lowers blood pressure in older adults through changes in the oral microbiome.
• Older participants saw benefits not observed in younger groups.
• Nitrate-rich vegetables like spinach and celery offer similar health perks.

A groundbreaking study from the University of Exeter has revealed that drinking concentrated beetroot juice twice daily lowers blood pressure in older adults, thanks to unique changes in mouth bacteria.

Researchers found that these changes differ between younger and older people, with the older group experiencing notable improvements in beneficial bacteria.

“Encouraging older adults to consume more nitrate-rich vegetables could have significant long term health benefits,” said Professor Anni Vanhatalo.

The older participants, who started with higher blood pressure, showed noticeable drops after drinking beetroot juice for two weeks.

An imbalance in oral bacteria can reduce how well the body converts dietary nitrate into nitric oxide, which is essential for healthy blood vessels.

“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,” explained Professor Andy Jones.

The research points to promising ways that nutrition can support vascular health as we age.

If beetroot isn’t your favorite, other nitrate-rich options include spinach, rocket, fennel, celery, and kale.

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