Dr Michael Mosley has highlighted a “powerhouse” vegetable which could help reduce blood pressure, inflammation and also improve fitness.
What’s more, you don’t have to splash out to reap these benefits, as you can buy 500 grams of the potent food for as little as 59p.
Speaking on his Channel 4 show Secrets of Your Big Shop, the diet and health guru explained the humble beetroot can have life-changing qualities.
The earthy veg is packed with nitrates which the human body converts into nitric acid. This helps blood flow to all your extremities, and can also reduce your blood pressure reading, contributing to a lower risk of a heart attack or a stroke.
Dr Mosley said: “Beetroots are particularly rich in nitrates. The nitrates are converted by the bacteria in your saliva into nitric oxide and of course that causes the expansion in your blood vessels and therefore greater blood flow to your extremities.
“Love it or hate it, this purple powerhouse has been shown in clinical trials to be an effective way to reduce blood pressure and also improve athletic performance. It’s also packed with inflammation-reducing antioxidants making it ideal for anyone concerned about heart health.”
Don’t just take the doctor’s word for it, as research also backs this powerful earthy veg.
Dr Mosley has previously cited a study that found a daily dose of beetroot juice can have a significant effect on blood pressure. He said: “One study found that just a few weeks of munching a couple of beets a day led to a fall in average blood pressure of about five millimetres of mercury, if maintained, this is enough to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack by 10 percent.”
The health guru explained that beetroot can also increase blood flow to crucial areas in your brain. He said: “One study found that pairing beetroot juice with exercise could increase connectivity in areas in the brain that control your movement. They found that those who exercised and drank beetroot juice displayed active motor brain networks which more closely resembled those of younger adults. So, drinking beetroot juice really may help keep your brain younger.”
Professor Andy Jones, Professor of Applied Physiology from the University of Exeter, who has spent over 10 years studying the effects of beetroot on sports performance, recommended eating two to three medium beetroots, or a shot of beetroot juice, to reap the positive effects.
