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According
to the Blood Pressure Association there are about 16 million people
in the UK with a blood pressure higher than 140/90mmHg - the upper
limit of normal.
This means that one in every
three adults now have high blood pressure, with larger numbers
affected in older age groups.
Sometimes the first symptom will
be a stroke or heart attack (yes, you should go and get tested now!).
Current treatment is with tablets but unfortunately many patients,
especially if they do not feel unwell, do not like taking tablets
every day and the treatment is essentially lifelong.
This is what makes the recent
research by a group of doctors at St. Bartholomew's and the Royal
London Hospital particularly important.
They have shown that a daily dose
of natural beetroot juice can have as much effect on blood pressure
in healthy volunteers as a conventional tablet prescribed by a doctor.
why
beetroot juice?
Well, beetroot is unusual in that
it contains very high levels of nitrate. All plants need nitrate to
grow and make protein. Beetroot is just better than the others at
taking it up from the soil and storing it in its swollen root.
"Ten years ago when we
started this research, everyone thought nitrate was a toxic substance
which should be avoided, but it was then realised that our own body
makes this mineral and concentrates it in our saliva," says
Professor Ben Benjamin. "Bacteria on the surface of our
tongue convert the nitrate to a more reactive chemical - nitrite,
which when swallowed very easily converts to nitric oxide. This is a
very powerful substance which is continually made by our blood
vessels to keep our blood pressure low, and is also made in large
quantities by white cells in our bloodstream to fight infection. It
is also very important in preventing blood clots from forming in
arteries by stopping platelet activation."
Professor Amrita Ahluwalia, who
led the beetroot juice research explains, "the magnitude of
the blood pressure reduction surprised us all. The results suggest
that the nitrate in beetroot juice acts like a natural aspirin to
prevent blood clots and protect the lining of blood vessels, as well
as having the additional beneficial effect of lowering blood
pressure. I am very excited about what our future researches will reveal."
Nutrition Information
Energy per 100g (KJ / Kcal): 175
/ 42
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