Private MD News

Nitrates may lower the risk of heart disease

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Individuals who have found through cholesterol testing that they are at risk for developing heart disease may want to consider adding more nitrates to their diet, as a new study has found that the nutrients can lower blood pressure and decrease the risk of developing heart problems.

Researchers from Queen Mary College in London examined the effects of increased nitrate intake in an effort to find a natural alternative to improving heart health. They found that taking nutritional supplements with nitrates or drinking beet juice, a strong natural source of the nutrient, were able to lower the blood pressure of study participants within 24 hours.

Amrita Ahluwalia, who led the study, said that consuming more nitrates can improve blood circulation in people with risk factors for heart disease by increasing the amount of the gas nitric oxide in arteries.

"We showed that beetroot and nitrate capsules are equally effective in lowering blood pressure, indicating that it is the nitrate content of beetroot juice that underlies its potential to reduce blood pressure," said Ahluwalia.

The news may benefit individuals who are struggling to control their risk factors for heart disease, which is the number one killer worldwide.