Beetroot Juice? 8 Ounces a day....hmmm

monicalosesweight
monicalosesweight Posts: 1,173 Member
in Food and Nutrition
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/04/16/beetroot-juice-lettuce-can-lower-blood-pressure-about-10-points-study-suggests/

This is interesting. Apparently, it may lower blood pressure by about 10 points and they are claiming it lasts for about 24 hours. I'm not sure what it tastes like though. Is it good? Bad? Does anyone have any experience with it? Have you been taking Beetroot juice for this?

Monica

Replies

  • olDave
    olDave Posts: 557 Member
    I tried it. It didn't lower my blood pressure. I didn't like the taste.
  • FredDoyle
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,273 Member
    It is interesting however, I'm not sure 10 points is worth the effort and risk of consuming all those extra nitrates.
    Plus, if you already eat lettuce, cabbage, beets, celery etc. every day, how much is too much or what is the point of diminishing returns?
  • TimeForMe99
    TimeForMe99 Posts: 309
    The dose of 2 cups per day is 50g of carbs. Seems like a high price to pay for a small amount of added nitrates. I think I'd rather have the lettuce.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    The dose of 2 cups per day is 50g of carbs. Seems like a high price to pay for a small amount of added nitrates. I think I'd rather have the lettuce.

    Wait, bacon is high in nitrates, right?!
  • EdwarddeVere
    EdwarddeVere Posts: 178
    Add vodka to taste...
  • TimeForMe99
    TimeForMe99 Posts: 309
    The dose of 2 cups per day is 50g of carbs. Seems like a high price to pay for a small amount of added nitrates. I think I'd rather have the lettuce.

    Wait, bacon is high in nitrates, right?!

    Yep. Same thing. Although I think the saturated fat would offset the benefits, and then you're trading HBP with high cholesterol.
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,839 Member
    Beware self-serving industry-conducted research! Warning bells should ring.

    This finding is the result of a 24 hour long, 15 person study, and was conducted by directors of a beet juice producer. They first reported this in 2010 and, to date, no larger studies have been conducted by them or anyone else to confirm their findings. The reduction in pressure was in the range of only 7 to 11 points and we do not know how careful they were to avoid the placebo effect, which would be very easy to induce for short term blood pressure measurements with differences so small.

    See: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/04April/Pages/Beetroots-effects-on-blood-pressure-uncertain.aspx
  • kmorganlfc
    kmorganlfc Posts: 115 Member
    Drinking beetroot juice in those quantities signifies great dedication to your sport. :P

    Zipvit - Beetroot Nitrate - Performance Gel is a better way of taking the beneficial properties (if the reallyexist) of beetroot juice (if you dont like the taste). Although, I have to warn you - when you use it, EVERYTHING turns red (well, it did for me :P)
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    The dose of 2 cups per day is 50g of carbs. Seems like a high price to pay for a small amount of added nitrates. I think I'd rather have the lettuce.

    Wait, bacon is high in nitrates, right?!

    Yep. Same thing. Although I think the saturated fat would offset the benefits, and then you're trading HBP with high cholesterol.

    Except that dietary cholesterol doesn't affect blood levels of cholesterol.
  • kmorganlfc
    kmorganlfc Posts: 115 Member
    The dose of 2 cups per day is 50g of carbs. Seems like a high price to pay for a small amount of added nitrates. I think I'd rather have the lettuce.

    Wait, bacon is high in nitrates, right?!

    Yep. Same thing. Although I think the saturated fat would offset the benefits, and then you're trading HBP with high cholesterol.

    Except that dietary cholesterol doesn't affect blood levels of cholesterol.

    You are correct about cholesterol in the diet not affecting blood cholestorol. That gets made by the liver from saturated fats, which is related to saturated fats "offsetting the benfits" which is the point of the post you quoted..

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