Doctor suggests surprising veg could slash your blood pressure and cholesterol

20 June 2024 , 10:56

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This mystery super veg may be the key to lowering cholesterol (stock image) (Image: Getty Images)

We're constantly reminded to eat our 'five a day'.

Yet, a doctor has pinpointed one particular vegetable that could be a game-changer for reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, while boasting cancer-fighting potential too.

Forget broccoli or sweetcorn; the veg in question is beetroot. NHS Dr Suraj Kukadia - also known as Dr Sooj - took to TikTok to explain the 'excellent' benefits beetroot can offer our health.

"Are beetroots good for you? Beetroots are excellent," he declared on his TikTok account @doctorsooj. "Dietary nitrate has been proven to lower blood pressure both centrally and peripherally. On top of this, it can also help improve athletic performance."

As Dr Sooj suggests, these vibrant veggies are packed with nitrates, which our bodies converts into nitric oxide. This molecule is key for dilating arteries and slashing blood pressure in the process.

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Meanwhile, researchers also believe that antioxidants - known as 'betanins' - found in beetroot may help reduce cholesterol levels. This is crucial for protecting the heart and brain, especially since high cholesterol is linked with an increased risk of strokes and heart attacks.

Right now, heart attacks are responsible for 68,000 deaths in the UK each year - or 190 people a day - according to the BHF. So, taking this seriously may even help to boost your life expectancy.

And if you thought it couldn't get any better, these same betanins may potentially reduce your risk of cancer. This is primarily because they help destroy unstable molecules in our bodies that are cancerous in large numbers, according to Healthline.

That said, beetroot has an undeniably divisive aura about it - a real 'Marmite' of the vegetable world. Many can't stand its rather earthy taste that's a product of its 'geosmin' content, a chemical compound relevant both internally and externally to the veggie.

But fear not, Dr Sooj recommends teaming it with various juices or other fruits to help mask the earthy flavour. He suggests: "If you find the taste of beetroot a bit too earthy, you can also just mix it with a bit of apple or a bit of ginger and even mix it into fruit juices."

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below

Lauren Haughey