Beetroot?

[GrannyE]

Any one have any experience with beetroot? I have been sold concentrated beetroot pills cos they are supposed to help with my anaemia and heart. I was assured they have no bad side effects. Have not taken any yet. I am told i will see the benefits in a couple of months.

[BobD Volunteer]

Never heard of that one Granny. I did panic once after a large meal of roasted beetroot (Mary Berry recipe) when "things" turned red.

[GrannyE in reply to BobD]

Not worried about things turning red. If that is the only problem will go with itThx. How are you?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to GrannyE]

Trying to remain sane but struggling! They tell me insanity is hereditary. You get it from your children.

[GrannyE in reply to BobD]

If you think you are going senile/mad you are not so I wouldn’t worry. I can vouch for the fact that we get things from our children. I have often noticed that.I have a lovely old cartoon of a monk lying on a couch saying to the psychiatrist ’Although I am one with the universe the universe is clearly nuts’

[CDreamer in reply to BobD]

Oh I so know that one……

[C66t in reply to BobD]

Well at least there's nothing wrong with your sence of humour Bob 😉

[wilsond in reply to BobD]

😁😁😁

[secondtry in reply to BobD]

I always forget and fall for that every time! Just had a beetroot fermented juice shot for breakfast.....delicious.

[Maggimunro in reply to BobD]

Same here Bob. I was in such a panic I rang a mate of mine, consultant urologist, and he booked me in for an emergency cystoscopy. I only realised it was the beetroot when I walked the dog later that day with my son and the dog was peeing pink! My son fessed up he had given the dog his dinner the night before and she had eaten the beetroot along with everything else on his plate. I then had to ring and apologise. The next day it wasn’t just my pee that was pink when I met my mate.

Lol.

[Nursenessa69 in reply to Maggimunro]

reading your reply made me giggle out loud. Thank you for that happy visualization.

[Ducky2003 in reply to BobD]

It's ok when you remember you've had it but scares the 💩 out of you when you don't 😁.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi GrannyE

About 13-14 years ago beetroot juice was touted as being good for the heart and AF. I tried it and I'm afraid it did nothing for me, but we are all very different so it might suit you. I have a feeling that cherry juice too was said to be good.

Jean

[GrannyE in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Think it is sour cherries.

[CDreamer in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Sour cherry juice was for gout.

[GrannyE in reply to CDreamer]

Isn’t it for all inflammation?

[CDreamer in reply to GrannyE]

Could be…?

[Hidden]

I do not know about the pills, but the beetroot has been said to be the third plant on the planet according to the quality - after garlic and onion. It is shamefully cheap, according to how reach it is on minerals and the rest.

[GrannyE]

That’s good to know.

[Threecats]

Hi GrannyE,

I have heard that beetroot juice can help to lower blood pressure ( I think there have been studies done on it). I’m assuming the beetroot pills may have a similar effect, so you may perhaps want to monitor your bp if you are on bp medication.

[Bagrat]

One of the tv docs was singing its praises but you had to eat 4 or 5 beets a day. I love beetroot especially with white sauce but think that might defeat even me.!!

[john-boy-92]

Beetroot juice can increase nitric oxide within the blood, and was / is used by athletes to improve performance in cardio sports. I can't answer whether there is any benefit medically and, whether pills are better than juice.

[Cat04]

bbc.co.uk/programmes/articl...

[Singwell]

Hello. I think beetroot is supposed to assist with regulation of blood pressure if I recall. But whether that works in tablet form I couldn't say. Organic beetroot juice might be better? See what others say.

[Hidden]

On Radio 4 recently "Just One Thing" with Michael Mosely did an entire programme on beetroot juice: "The benefits of beetroot" Beetroot was thought to have health promoting properties as far back as Ancient Greece, so we’ve known beetroot is good for the body for a long time. But now, a vast body of research is starting to unravel the surprising benefits of this earthy vegetable. So, why is it so good for you?

The secret ingredient

One of the powers of beetroot is that it is incredibly rich in nitrates. Eat some beetroot, and something remarkable happens: the bacteria that live in your mouth kick start the transformation of the nitrates into nitric oxide, a powerful molecule with many effects around the body.

Heart beets

A daily dose of beetroot juice can have a significant effect on blood pressure! 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 5 millimetres of mercury, if maintained, this is enough to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack by 10% . Studies have also found that beetroot can have an effect on blood pressure within a few hours of intake .

Nitric oxide can increase the size of your blood vessels so blood flows through more easily. This is one of the reasons why eating beetroot can reduce blood pressure. It could also help explain why beetroot juice can be beneficial for your brain!

Drop the beet for your brain

Beetroot can increase blood flow to crucial areas in your brain. 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.

Beetroot & your (micro)biome

Research has also revealed that drinking beetroot juice twice daily for just ten days can change the mix of oral bacteria for the better. Amazingly, the volunteers who drank beetroot had a boost to bacteria linked to good vascular and cognitive health. They also had reduced levels of bacteria associated with disease and inflammation .

Boosting healthy populations of oral bacteria may help combat the drop in your body’s ability to produce nitric oxide as you get older and pave the way to better long term health.

Recent studies are also stacking up on how this humble vegetable could help you run faster…

Beet your personal best

Prof Andy Jones, Professor of Applied Physiology from the University of Exeter who has spent over 10 years investigating the effects of beetroot on sport performance explains how the nitrates in the beetroot improve the blood flow to our lungs and muscles, resulting in a faster delivery of oxygen. “There's the potential for the muscle to be receiving more oxygen and to distribute that oxygen within itself more effectively because of the effects of nitric oxide”, he says. Not only this, they help you make more efficient use of oxygen during exercise, so you can work harder, without feeling the strain.

The results are remarkable. Eating beetroot has been shown to have significant effects on speed and perceived exertion. In one study, during the last 1.8k, the runners who’d had beetroot ran a potential race-winning 5% faster .

How much should I be eating?

Prof Jones advised that two-three medium beetroots, or a shot of beetroot juice, is all you need to see positive effects. Getting about 6 to 10 millimoles of nitrate a day is what's important. He advises keeping a steady intake of nitrates every day and every week for long term benefit.

In one study, during the last 1.8k, the runners who’d had beetroot ran a potential race-winning 5% faster

The precious nitrates are water-soluble though, so be careful when boiling beets. Boiling your beets will allow nitrates to leach out into the cooking liquid, so you won’t get as many benefits.

Much of the beetroot we buy is vacuum-packed: some brands pre-boil and others don’t. Pickled beetroot tends to be pre-boiled, so the nitrate content will likely be too low to get all the good stuff.

So if you really want to get the most out of this vegetable it might be best to buy it raw and bake it, or drink the juice! It’s a small change that really could have some unbeetable effects!" Podcast at: bbc.co.uk/programmes/articl...

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

So agree - eat the food NOT the processed supplements for maximum benefit and minimal risk of reactions. The body recognises natural, unadulterated foods and is able to digest them well. The body struggles with anything processed - supplements are processed.

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

Completely ageee that juice or raw beetroot are much better than a supplement. I've started drinking beetroot juice. On the programme, one volunteer did comment that drinking the juice was "an acquired taste"; however, I don't find it too bad.

[Auriculaire in reply to Hidden]

I sauté the raw beetroot cut into small cubes in a mixture of butter and walnut oil. When cooked I add a dessert spoon of honey and raspberry vinegar. Season with black pepper and sea salt. Not only delicious but the goodness does not leach out like with boiling.

[RoyMacDonald]

I've been drinking Beet It Sport Nitrate 400 from James White for 35 years and am 78 now. It's a concentrated juice. I tried drinking pressed juice unconcentrated but my stomach objected as I have IBS. I found the concentrate worked as well as pure pressed juice in terms of performance boost. I was able to beet (pun intended) Chris Hoy on the Herne Hill Velodrome anyway so I guess it must have been doing something. I would say it gave a 4 to 5% increase in performance. My GP said that my bloodwork is exactly the same as when she tested it 7 years ago. I love it. I am getting slower on my bike as I age but I feel it slows the aging process and I can still race and give the young guys a run for their money.

All the best.

Roy

[GrannyE in reply to RoyMacDonald]

This is good news. Thx for replying.

[Kevin2331]

I've been taking beetroot capsules for several years now, and everytime I get my blood tested my results are always normal in every category. ( I'm 64). I started out with the beet powder, then switched to capsules mainly for the convenience. They're supposed to be good for your arteries

[GrannyE in reply to Kevin2331]

How wonderful. I am so pleased for you and when they arrive I will start taking them - hopefully with the same results as you have had. Thanks

[Madras1]

Hi GrannyE i used to take beetroot juice ,about 1/2 a pint a day , it works to lower your blood pressure , the nitrates in beetroot relax the arteries, so lowering the pressure . I was advised to stop taking it when diagnosed with Afib at Christmas, The tablets you are talking about are exactly the same as the juice just concentrated . i would double check with your cardiologist good luck

[GrannyE in reply to Madras1]

Have not spoken to him for years. Have you tried speaking to a doctor recently? I could try but the very thought is daunting.

[Nigel2000]

Beets are cheap, yummy and easy to cook. Who knows what’s in those pills; I’d wonder if they’re snake oil.

[GrannyE in reply to Nigel2000]

Could be