New research suggests that drinking beet juice daily may improve heart health in postmenopausal women. Beet juice stimulates nitric oxide production, improving blood flow and circulation. When choosing beet juice, choose 100% juice with no additives.
A new study suggests that drinking beet juice daily may improve blood vessel function more effectively than a placebo. When incorporated into a daily routine after menopause, this improvement could significantly reduce the risk of heart disease in postmenopausal women.
The findings were published this week in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.
Participants were given two 2.3-ounce bottles of concentrated beet juice, then consumed one bottle each morning for seven days. After a few weeks, participants were given nitrate-free beet juice.
To measure vascular function, the researchers analyzed vasodilation when participants drank beet juice with and without nitrates.
The results showed that drinking beet juice containing nitrates daily improved blood flow compared to beet juice without nitrates.
However, the researchers found that neither treatment prevented the decline in vascular function after tissue injury in postmenopausal women.
The results also suggest that the specific protective effect of beetroot juice nitrates on blood vessels disappears within 24 hours of the last intake. Daily or even more frequent intake of nitrate-rich beetroot juice may be necessary to maintain its protective effect on endothelial function.
This was a small, short-term study. Larger, longer-term studies are needed to find the optimal amount and timing of nitrate intake to promote vascular function and heart health in postmenopausal women.
Jocelyn Delgado Spicuzza, PhD, of the Huck Institute for Life Sciences at Pennsylvania State University and lead author of the study, explained how beet juice may benefit postmenopausal women.
“Consuming nitrates from plants is a secondary pathway to increase the body's availability of nitric oxide, a molecule responsible for widening blood vessels to allow blood flow and oxygen to reach organs such as the heart,” Delgado Spicuzza said in an emailed response. “After menopause, estrogen alone is no longer sufficient to stimulate the body's natural production of nitric oxide, so dietary nitrates are converted to nitric oxide through the enterosalivary pathway, helping to maintain healthy vascular function.”
John Higgins, MD, a sports cardiologist at UTHealth Houston, explained that estrogen has a protective effect on blood vessel function in premenopausal women.
“Postmenopausal women are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease because they lose the protective effects of estrogen on blood vessel function and nitric oxide production, which makes arteries more flexible and fluid and more resistant to plaque formation,” Higgins said. “Other effects of aging include: [who] This leads to overall less activity and weight gain, both of which are unhealthy.”
Higgins was not involved in the study.
Higgins explained that beet juice, which is rich in nitrates, promotes systemic nitric oxide production and improves endothelial function in older adults, healthy people and those at high risk of heart disease.
Additionally, it can be useful if:
Lowers blood pressure Reduces LDL or “bad” cholesterol Improves exercise endurance Improves muscle strength in patients with heart failure Prevents or reduces fatty deposits in the liver Supports overall health during chemotherapy
Studies have found that drinking beet juice specifically affects blood vessel function, as Higgins points out that the juice helps protect cells called endothelium, which line the inside of arteries, veins and capillaries.
Beet juice directly targets and improves abnormal endothelial function by stimulating the production of nitric oxide. Through a chain reaction, the body converts the nitrates in beet juice into nitric oxide, which helps improve blood flow and blood pressure, Higgins adds.
“The vascular endothelium is an important barometer of health and wellness, yet it is invisible and therefore not often discussed,” said Higgins. “Abnormal endothelial function is associated with deleterious medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.”
When buying beet juice at the store, it's important to pay attention to the ingredients.
“Look for good, fresh, organic beet juice that is 100% juice and has very few additives. Natural juice is generally better than powdered juice,” Higgins says.
Also make sure there is no added sugar.
Frequent consumption of beet juice may improve heart health in postmenopausal women.
Beet juice improves vascular function by increasing the amount of nitric oxide in the body.
