You can beet high blood pressure
More than 70% of U.S. adults age 60-plus have high blood pressure, yet only one in four of those folks has their blood pressure (BP) under control -- often because they don't take their prescribed medications.
If that describes you, whether you don't like your med's side effects or are simply neglecting your health, it's important to find and take a BP medication that works for you -- and to get your blood pressure under control. Otherwise, you're two-and-a-half times more likely to have a stroke and almost twice as likely to have a heart attack than folks with their BP well-controlled.
Well, now there's another smart step to take (with your doc's OK) if you're age 60-plus: Drink a shot of concentrated beet juice twice a day. According to a new study in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, that helps older folks lower blood pressure by reshaping their oral biome so that their mouth contains more beneficial bacteria and fewer harmful ones. That leads to the more effective conversion of dietary nitrates, from spinach, kale, root vegetables and celery, into nitric acid -- a molecule that's essential for vascular health and flexibility (keys to lower blood pressure). On average, study participants saw a 7-point drop in the systolic pressure (the top number.
So, start taking your BP med as prescribed, adopt a plant-based diet that delivers healthy nitrates from root veggies like beets and ask your doc about using beet concentrate. For great blood-pressure-friendly recipes, check out my "What to Eat When Cookbook."
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@4YOUngevity.com.
(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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