Although the idea of drinking the juice of this vegetable may sound strange, it is very beneficial for the cardiovascular system and helps improve the functioning of the brain. Plus, it’s inexpensive and delicious!
A team of scientists from the University of Exeter, in the United Kingdom, discovered that beet juice supports a mixture of oral bacteria associated with healthy blood vessels and brain and cognitive function.
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During the study, 26 people between the ages of 70 and 80 were divided into two groups. While the participants in the first group consumed the beet juice twice a day, the rest drank the placebo juice.
Then, they were subjected to vascular and cognitive health tests.
The authors of the experiment concluded that systolic blood pressure dropped about five points (mmHg) on average in people in the first group.
The reason is that beet juice is rich in inorganic nitrate NO3-. For its part, the bacteria in the oral flora transform it into nitric oxide, which benefits vascular and cognitive health.
“We are very excited about these results that have important implications for healthy aging,” explains lead study author Anni Vanhatalo.
The British researcher adds that “the addition of foods rich in nitrates to the diet, in this case, beet juice, for just ten days can substantially alter the oral microbiome (mixture of bacteria) for the better.”
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Vegetables that contain high amounts of this inorganic nitrate also include lettuce, spinach, and celery.