Doctor says one surprising vegetable could slash blood pressure and cholesterol

We all know the mantra about getting our ‘five a day’, but one doctor has singled out a specific veggie that could be a powerhouse for your health, particularly when it comes to blood pressure and cholesterol levels, not to mention its potential in warding off cancer.

Step aside broccoli and sweetcorn; it’s all about beetroot now. Dr Suraj Kukadia, better known as Dr Sooj on social media, took to TikTok to share the remarkable health benefits of this humble root vegetable.

“Are beetroots good for you? Beetroots are excellent,” he Stated on his TikTok handle @doctorsooj.

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“Dietary nitrate has been proven to lower blood pressure both centrally and peripherally. On top of this, it can also help improve athletic performance.”

Dr Sooj points out that beetroot is chock-full of nitrates, which our bodies convert into nitric oxide, a compound that plays a crucial role in widening blood vessels and bringing down blood pressure.

But that’s not all the antioxidants in beetroot, called ‘betanins’, are thought by scientists to be effective in reducing cholesterol levels, a key factor in maintaining heart and brain health, given that high cholesterol is associated with a greater risk of strokes and heart attacks, reports the Mirror.

With cardiovascular disease (CVD) causing nearly 9,000 deaths in Ireland every year, incorporating beetroot into your diet might just give your lifespan a hearty boost.

And the benefits don’t stop there, as these same betanins could potentially lower your risk of cancer. This is mainly because they help to eliminate unstable molecules in our bodies that can become cancerous in large quantities, according to Healthline.

However, beetroot certainly divides opinion – it’s the ‘Marmite’ of the vegetable world. Its earthy taste, a result of its ‘geosmin’ content, a chemical compound inherent to the veggie, puts many people off.

But don’t worry, Dr Sooj has a solution for those who find the flavour too strong. 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.”

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