This juice can lower blood pressure after a few days of drinking.

Beets contain a lot of natural nitrate, a compound that when entering the body will be converted into nitric oxide, according to The Independent (UK).

Nitric oxide works to relax and widen blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more freely and reducing stress on the cardiovascular system. This is important for older adults because their bodies produce less nitric oxide than younger people, leading to a higher risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

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Beetroot juice brings many benefits to the elderly

A study by the University of Exeter (UK) shows that beetroot juice can help reduce blood pressure in the elderly after just a few days of use.

The study was conducted on 75 people, including 39 people under 30 years old and 36 people between 60 and 70 years old.

During the first two-week phase, volunteers drank beetroot juice every day. They then took a two-week break and were asked to rinse their mouths with an antiseptic solution daily.

Next, the group continued to drink a placebo juice containing no nitrate for the final 2 weeks.

Results showed that in both groups, the oral microbiota changed significantly after drinking nitrate-rich beetroot juice, but the extent of the effect was different between young and elderly people.

In the elderly group, the amount of harmful bacteria decreased significantly after using beetroot juice. On the contrary, the number of beneficial bacteria increased, contributing to the balance of the natural environment in the oral cavity.

The most notable result was that the elderly group recorded a significant reduction in blood pressure after 2 weeks of drinking beetroot juice containing nitrate. This change did not appear in the younger group, suggesting that the effect of nitrate in beetroot is especially pronounced in the elderly.

Benefits of a nitrate-rich diet

Professor Andy Jones, University of Exeter, said that a diet rich in nitrates can change the oral microbiome in a beneficial way, reduce inflammatory responses and help lower blood pressure in older people.

As we age, our bodies produce less nitric oxide, which increases blood pressure and can lead to cardiovascular complications such as heart attack or stroke.

Adding vegetables containing natural nitrates like beets can help maintain stable blood pressure and improve blood circulation.

Older adults should include nitrate-rich foods in their daily diet. In addition to beets, many other common vegetables are also high in nitrates, including spinach, watercress, fennel, celery, and kale.

Experts suggest that adults should drink about 250 to 300 ml of beetroot juice per day, equivalent to about one medium-sized beetroot, to achieve good effects on heart health and blood pressure.

However, use should be maintained regularly in combination with a balanced diet rich in green vegetables, fruits and limited salt.