Unpopular root veggie BEATS high blood pressure in HOURS!
You’ll never hear Big Pharma ever admit it…
But the reality is, when it comes to high blood pressure (BP), “treating” it isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.
For starters, one high BP reading doesn’t mean you have “hypertension” (the fancy term for high blood pressure).
And don’t even get me started on hypertension medications. They’re loaded with side effects, plus they can even work TOO WELL… sending your BP off a cliff which can increase your risk of falls.
No folks, maintaining a healthy BP isn’t a silly game of throwing a pill at the problem and hoping for the best.
It’s about monitoring things over the long haul… being mindful of your BP readings… and knowing that a slight uptick in your BP isn’t going to send you to your death bed!
But before you tear that Velcro and do your own BP reading, I’m going to clue you in on a natural way to help keep your levels down.
Remember growing up and eating BEETS? Chances are you probably HATED them!
But there’s plenty to love about beets… especially as you get older.
Beets are part of the beetroot family (Beta vulgaris), which are root vegetables known as red beet, table beet, and garden beet.
Beetroots are packed with all KINDS of essential nutrients like fiber, folate (vitamin B9), manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C!
They also contain nitrates, which your body converts into something called nitric oxide – a vasodilator that relaxes the inner muscles of your blood vessels, causing the vessels to widen, increasing overall blood flow (and thus lowering blood pressure).
In a study published in The Journal of Nutrition, just one glass of beetroot juice a day is enough to significantly reduce BP in people with hypertension.
The study even found that it worked for folks whose BP was NOT controlled by drug treatment!
In other words, beets aren’t just a supplemental treatment to hypertension… they are a stand-alone remedy!
Here’s more good news…
Studies show that beetroots (or their juice) can reduce blood pressure up to 3–10 mm Hg over a period of just a FEW HOURS!
But Allan, don’t BP meds do the same thing?!
No, not exactly.
You see, studies show that most mainstream medications take DAYS (sometimes WEEKS) to lower your BP… and that’s usually being pretty optimistic at best.
Luckily, much to mainstream medicine’s chagrin, relying on expensive and risky medications that take forever to do anything is NOT the only way!
It’s okay if you still don’t like eating beets. Beetroot powder is a great ‘substitute’ for raw beets… and it still contains the same nutritional profile (and has a longer shelf life)
In Your Corner,
Dr. Allan Spreen
Sources:
Van De Walle, Gavin. “5 Ways Nitric Oxide Supplements Boost Your Health and Performance.” https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nitric-oxide-supplements
Rose Wilson, Debra. “Does beetroot juice lower blood pressure?” https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/288229
Bjarnadottir, Adda. “Beetroot 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits.” https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/beetroot#nutrition
