Amazing Beetroot Smoothie to Lower High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (HBP) is among the top reasons for deaths. Keeping it in consideration, it is important to have your blood pressure checked regularly; and get cured if you have it.
Normally, people with high blood pressure do not have any symptoms. You can have high blood pressure for years without even knowing it. That is why it is often termed as a “silent killer”. The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly
Causes of High Blood Pressure
The main causes of HBP are not known. However, some things may play a major role in its increase, including:
- Too much salt in the diet
- Aging
- Heredity
- Having chronic kidney disease
- Smoking habits
- Being overweight
- Lack of physical activity
Beetroot! An Excellent High Blood Pressure Curer
The juice of beetroot has been linked with numerous health benefits, including improving the blood flow and lowering blood pressure. Many of these health benefits are due to their high content of inorganic nitrates.
Beetroot mainly consists of water (87%), carbohydrates (8%) and fiber (2-3%). In fact, one cup (136 grams) of boiled beetroots contains less than 60 calories.
Nutritional Values of a Beetroot
Folate (B9): One of the B-vitamins, important for normal tissue growth and cell function. It is particularly important for pregnant women.
Manganese: An essential trace element, found in high amounts in whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables.
Potassium: A diet high in potassium can lead to reduced blood pressure levels, and have positive effects on cardiovascular health.
Iron: An essential mineral, which has many important functions in the body. It is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells.
Vitamin C: An antioxidant that is important for immune function and skin health.
Beetroot Effects on High Blood Pressure
Beetroots can help lower blood pressure, leading to reduced risk of heart disease and several other diseases. It can actually work in hours!
The reason it works so fast is, because beets contain dietary nitrate, which your body converts into a gas (nitric oxide) that expands blood vessels and aids blood flow. Also, dietary nitrates have been shown to reduce oxygen use during physical exercise.
Quick and Healthy Beetroot Smoothie Recipe
Time Required for Making: 5 Minutes!
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
- 1½ cup pineapple chunks
- ½ cup sliced cooked beets
- ¼ cup celery leaves
- 1 cup vanilla almond milk
- ½ cup fresh orange juice
Method:
- Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Serve and drink.
(Ask your doctor before trying it out)
