Beetroots or beets are a nutrient-dense root vegetable, and they taste great when prepared correctly. Beet juice lowers high blood pressure and has many other benefits – but be careful how you consume it!

With so many nutrients and various ways of using it, there is no reason not to include beetroot in your regular diet.

Use the beetroot juice recipe below to improve your blood pressure and cardiovascular (heart) health, and discover some of the other benefits of consuming this super food.

Beet Juice Lowers Blood Pressure

Did you know that in the US, one in every three adults has high blood pressure?  And that it contributed to over 1,000 deaths per DAY? (source CDC )

You DON’T want to be part of that horrible statistic!

Of course you can take medication for hypertension, or high blood pressure, but there are often side-effects.

A more natural approach is to drink beet juice every day and eat mostly healthy food.

A study shows that one glass of beetroot juice a day is beneficial in reducing blood pressure – 3 hours after drinking 17 ounces / 500 ml of beetroot juice, volunteers showed a decrease in blood pressure that lasted up to 24 hours after drinking the juice!

Raw beetroot contains high levels of nitrate (NO₃), which relaxes your arteries and therefore improves circulation and reduces blood pressure.

Beetroot Juice Boosts Your Stamina And Endurance

Studies show that the nitrates in beetroot juice leads to a reduction in oxygen uptake, making exercise less tiring. This was not achieved by any other known means, including training.

The nitrates in beetroots also improve muscle contraction and relaxation so you can exercise better.

Loads of Nutrients

Beetroot juice contains vitamins A and C, the B vitamins along with folate, iron, calcium, betaine and potassium.

The antioxidant-rich juice helps fight disease and prevent cell damage.

Beware!

If you’re just starting off with beetroot, you may want to dilute the juice by adding other water-rich vegetables such as cucumber or celery.

It is also advised that men avoid drinking beetroot juice every day as they don’t lose blood like women do.

Over-consumption of beetroot can lead to an increase of iron in the blood (which is beneficial if you have anemia but might cause problems if you don’t).

Beetroot Juice Recipe

This recipe makes about 17 ounces or 500 ml:

• 5-6 medium-sized raw beetroots
• 1 cucumber (optional)
• 1 lemon with peel (cut off both ends)
• 1-inch of ginger root

If your beetroots have smooth skin, just use a vegetable brush and scrub them clean under running water. If they are rough and uneven, peel them so you remove all soil that may be hidden in the uneven surface.

Gather all the above ingredients, wash and cut them to sizes that will fit your juicer chute. Run everything through your juicer and pour into a glass. Stir the juice and enjoy.

Have a glass a day to manage/control your high blood pressure. If you’re an athlete, drinking a glass every day will help increase your stamina and reduce muscle inflammation.

You can also eat steamed/boiled beetroots when not juiced. Betroot tastes great when paired with feta cheese in a healthy dalad