[ DRINKING BEETROOT JUICE]

> Subject: Drinking beetroot juice
>
>
> Tuesday, Jun 29 2010
> Drinking beetroot juice dramatically lowers risk of heart disease and strokes
> By Sophie Borland
>
> You'll look a little bloodthirsty while slurping it down.

> But don't let that put you off beetroot juice - because it could save your
> life.
>
> The bright-red juice contains the chemical nitrate, which dramatically reduces
> blood pressure, cutting the risk of heart disease and strokes.
>
> Dramatic effect: Patients who drank a glass of beetroot juice a day were found
> to have significantly reduce blood pressure 24 hours later
>
> The findings, published in Hypertension, the journal of the American Heart
> Association, could now see beetroot juice being used as a treatment.
>
> Researchers at William Harvey Research Institute at Queen Mary University in
> London compared patients who were given a 250ml glass of beetroot juice a day
> with those who took nitrate tablets.
>
> They found that the two methods were equally successful in reducing blood
> pressure.
>
> The researchers concluded that the nitrates which naturally occur in beetroot
> are the cause of its beneficial effects.
>
> They produce a gas known as nitric oxide in the blood which widens blood
> vessels and arteries and lowers blood pressure.
>
> High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects 16million Britons - one in five
> - and is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.
>
> Amrita Ahluwalia, Professor of Vascular Biology at the William Harvey Research
> Insti tute, said: 'We showed that beetroot and nitrate capsules are equally
> effective in lowering blood pressure indicating that it is the nitrate content
> of beetroot juice that underlies its potential to reduce blood pressure.
>
> 'We also found that only a small amount of juice is needed - just 250ml - to
> have this effect, and that the higher the blood pressure at the start of the
> study the greater the decrease caused by the nitrate.
>
> 'Our previous study two years ago found that drinking beetroot juice lowered
> blood pressure; now we know how it works.'
>
> Scientists have already showed how drinking beetroot juice can boost stamina.
>
> Last year researchers from the University of Exeter and Peninsula Medical
> School found that it could have as much effect as a punishing training regime.
>
> They found that healthy young men were able to increase their stamina by up to
> 16 per cent after drinking a glass of beetroot juice for a week.
>
> Beetroot juice is found in most health food shops and usually costs around £2
> a bottle.
>
> Though very good for your body, it has one rather alarming side-effect.
>
> Those who consume large amounts are likely to experience purple urine, or
> beeturia as it is known to scientists.
>
>
>
> Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
cannot be guaranteed to be timely, secure, error or virus free.