Beetroot Juice can Help Elderly to Lead Active Lives

Drinking beetroot juice energizes the body and helps the elderly to lead more active lives, say researchers from the Exeter University, Britain. It was found that after drinking the beet root juice the amount of effort required for walking was reduced by 12%. During the study the subjects were given normal beetroot juice or juice with the nitrates removed. Professor Andy Jones said, "Each time the normal, nitrate-rich juice was used, we saw a marked improvement in performance which wasn't there with the filtered juice- so we know that nitrate is the active ingredient."

With growing age or due to some cardiovascular conditions the amount of oxygen taken in during exercise can drop dramatically, due to which one can feel tired. However, beetroot juice widens blood vessels and reduces the amount of oxygen the muscles require during low-intensity exercise.

This study would enhance the lives of the elderly by allowing them to undertake tasks they might not otherwise attempt.

Source: Medindia