Betroot juice

i’m dur th it timt i vivitte th Stork Assoiviaion it I read a lot bout beetroot juice.But now I n;at in i. A friend who suffer lives om hypertension recommendes it I tried ii for the fisrt h firt time todayan found i a tolerable drink. Does anyone kno mush abou this?

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There is credible evidence that beetroot juice may help lower blood pressure, primarily due to its high concentration of dietary nitrates. Here’s a concise, evidence-based overview.

How it works

Your body converts nitrates from beetroot juice into nitric oxide, a molecule that relaxes and widens blood vessels. This vasodilation improves blood flow and can reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Key research findings

  • Short-term effects: A 2015 meta-analysis in the Journal of Nutrition found that drinking beetroot juice lowered systolic blood pressure by an average of 4.4 mmHg within a few hours.
  • Long-term use: A 2017 study in Hypertension reported that daily beetroot juice over 4 weeks lowered clinic blood pressure in older adults with hypertension.
  • Dose: Most studies use 140–500 mL (about 5–16 oz) providing 5–8 mmol of nitrates.

Practical considerations

  • Timing: Blood pressure drop typically occurs 2–6 hours after consumption and can last up to 24 hours.
  • Form: Fresh juice, concentrated shots, or powders all work; cooking reduces nitrate content.
  • Side effects: Temporary beeturia (red urine/stool) is harmless. Some people report mild stomach upset or kidney stones risk if consumed excessively.
  • Drug interactions: Avoid combining with prescription nitrates (e.g., nitroglycerin) without medical supervision, as blood pressure may drop too much.

Who benefits most?

  • Individuals with pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension (120–139/80–89 mmHg)
  • Older adults and those with endothelial dysfunction

Limitations

  • Effect size is modest (≈4–5 mmHg systolic) – helpful as an adjunct to lifestyle changes, not a replacement for antihypertensive medication.
  • Response varies by genetics (oral bacteria convert nitrates; mouthwash use blunts effect).

Bottom line

Beetroot juice can be a safe, natural dietary supplement for blood pressure management. Drink 1–2 cups daily and monitor your readings. Always consult your doctor before starting, especially if you take blood pressure medication.

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Thnk ou. very useful

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@caggygill - I think Roland @pando has given a comprehensive explanation of the perceived benefits of beetroot juice.

There is a lot of information available that suggests and supports there are many health benefits of having beetroot in your diet. I do like beetroot and I feel I don’t use it enough - as well as juicing it, you can have it in salads, in stir fry, in curries. It is actually very versatile and of course it’s natural.

It’s great you were able to try it today and found it tolerable. I hope you will add it to your diet and enjoy the many health benefits it offfers.

Thank you for sharing this with us :slight_smile:

:pray:

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For those who, like me, are diabetic and shouldn’t drink it, you can get it in capsule form. I’ll mention the compny that makes it if I’m allowed to.

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…and for those who are insulin resistant, or just want to avoid a sugar spike, watch the following clip (and read the accompanying notes) Just substitute orange juice with beetroot juice!

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I don’t believe it is not allowed to mention companies that manufacture products as long as they are not your own companies that you are promoting for personal gain. In case I am wrong, I expect the moderator might put me right.

For example, many vitamins and food supplements are available from various sources e.g. Boots, Holland & Barret and supermarkets also have their own brands of medicines e.g. asprin which tend to be much cheaper. Also, lots of people buy from Amazon as a market place and so names are often mentioned in posts.

@Pando I was not aware that orange juice can be used to substitute for beetroot juice - this is new to me.
Good to know :slight_smile: though I believe beets do offer benefits that oranges don’t, so maybe include them both in your diet? I do anyway!


One final thought on juices.
As well as beetroot juice, I also juice other fruits and vegetables.
Today I made a celery smoothie that included celery, green leaves (a cabbage) and an apple.
I prefer to make smoothies rather than juicing because that way you also get the fibre from the fruit and veg which I believe you would lose if you use a juicer. but I may be wrong.

:pray:

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If you read carefully… it says substitute orange juice with beetroot !! (it’s the same procedure to avoid spike)

I think you misunderstand me … in the clip we give tips on avoiding sugar spike if you have an orange juice away from meal times. There is a graph, and we explain how various digestive hormones, (chyme, CCK, fibres and GLP-1) prime the digestive system to brunt the absorption of sugar.

Orange juice can in no way compete with Beetroot - but if you want to avoid sugar spike.. well watch clip !

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Yes, you are right Roland. I completely misread that and hence the misunderstanding :frowning:
I seem to be doing that a lot these days - maybe age is catching up with me.

Thanks for clarifying - it makes perfect sense now.

Nice video :slight_smile:

:pray:

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Aye / age is catching up with all of us !
Thx

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yres It’ noe aprt of regime.

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I like a good beetroot risotto for tea too with feta and spinach can stick beets all over in meals too. My husband regularly has beet juice to try to help reduce high bp and avoid my woes. Anythings worth a try but studies say it helps

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Some people say you can’t beetroot but for me, my palate isn’t keen on the stuff other than pickled and I am to understand the pickling removes essential nutrients, so be it. I do eat other stuff though, just as worthy in my books. Having said that, as I have a survival diet, if beets are on the table, they get eaten if I am hungry. I have been known to eat lots of foodstuffs I don’t really fancy or crave if that is the only thing on offer. Did I enjoy it? Not so much. Was I less famished. Indeed I was.

I blend vegetables into a drink all the time, it is called soup. :joy::bowl_with_spoon:

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