Khaberni - A new study indicated that beetroot juice, rich in dietary nitrates, reduces blood pressure for those aged 60 and above, by inhibiting potentially harmful bacteria in the mouth.
According to The Independent, experts at the University of Exeter compared the responses of young adults and elderly to beetroot juice.
They found that the body converts these nitrates into nitric oxide, which helps relax and widen blood vessels, lowering blood pressure.
The study included 39 people under the age of 30, and 36 individuals in their sixties and seventies, who drank beetroot juice for two weeks.
After a two-week break during which the participants used a daily antiseptic mouthwash, the groups were given nitrate-depleted juice for another two weeks.
The researchers used gene sequencing to analyze the bacteria present in the mouth after each phase of the experiment.
In both groups, the so-called oral microbiome - the complex ecosystem of microorganisms in the mouth - changed after drinking the nitrate-rich juice, although the effects varied.
In the elderly, there was a decrease in common bacteria that may sometimes cause infections and an increase in bacteria beneficial to health.
The researchers also found that blood pressure in the elderly decreased after drinking the nitrate-rich juice for two weeks.
Dr. Andy Jones, from the University of Exeter, said: “This study shows that nitrate-rich foods alter the oral microbiome in a way that may lead to reduced inflammation, in addition to lowering blood pressure in the elderly.”
Beetroot alternatives
If you do not like beetroot, there are many alternatives rich in dietary nitrates such as: spinach, arugula, fennel, celery, and cabbage."
The researchers said, "Encouraging the elderly to consume more vegetables rich in nitrates could have significant long-term health benefits."
