Surprising benefits of beets for heart disease

Experts at St Bartholomew's Hospital and Queen Mary University of London, in London (UK) conducted a study on 300 patients who had experienced angina. This is a condition that occurs when blood flow to the heart is reduced. The cause is often due to partial blockage of blood vessels, according to the Daily Telegraph (UK).

Beetroot juice may reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people who have experienced angina due to myocardial ischemia

All patients had a stent, a wire mesh tube that is placed in the artery to prevent narrowing. This is a treatment commonly used to treat coronary artery blockages. In the study, the patients were asked to drink 70 ml of beetroot juice every day for 6 months. Half drank pure beetroot juice, the other half drank juice with the nitrates removed.

About two years later, scientists found that 16% of patients in the group drinking the nitrate-free juice had a serious cardiovascular event such as a heart attack, stroke, or heart problem requiring medical intervention. Meanwhile, the rate of this rate in the group drinking beet juice with nitrate was only 7.5%. Not only that, the level of narrowing of the blood vessels after stent placement in this group was only half that of the group drinking the nitrate-free juice.

The study authors believe this difference comes from the natural nitrate content of beetroot juice. Nitrates cause blood vessels to dilate, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular events.

"Our experiments show that inorganic nitrate, found naturally in beetroot juice, has very encouraging effects. This juice can make a big difference in the treatment of angina patients. Patients also prefer treatments that are completely natural and have no side effects," said Dr. Krishnaraj Rathod, who led the study.

The team hopes this new discovery could allow doctors to prescribe daily beetroot juice as part of their prescriptions for people recovering from heart surgery, according to the Daily Telegraph .

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/loi-ich-dang-ngac-nhien-cua-cu-den-voi-benh-tim-185230611000102428.htm