A simple habit like chewing sugary gum after drinking beetroot juice can temporarily enhance the vegetable's natural ability to lower blood pressure, according to a new study by researchers atKing's College London. While the findings are promising, experts caution that this is not a treatment for hypertension and people should not start consuming sugary gum regularly for heart health.
The research highlights the surprising role of oral bacteria and saliva in unlocking the cardiovascular benefits of nitrate-rich vegetables such as beetroot, spinach, kale, and arugula.
Also read:India's Hidden Health Crisis: 77% Are Vitamin D Deficient Despite Abundant Sunshine
Beetroot is naturally rich in dietary nitrates, compounds known to improve cardiovascular health. However, nitrates cannot directly benefit the body. Instead, they must first be converted into nitrite by beneficial bacteria living in the mouth.
Nitrite is then transformed into nitric oxide, a molecule that relaxes and widens blood vessels, improving blood flow and helping reduce blood pressure. Researchers wanted to determine whether making saliva more acidic could improve this conversion process. "Whether and how the acidity of saliva impacts the conversion of inactive nitrate into the more active nitrite is a fundamental question, as it affects important functions including blood pressure," said Dr. Andrew Webb, Clinical Senior Lecturer at King's College London.
Experts say the blood pressure-lowering effect of beetroot lasts only a few hours
The study involved healthy volunteers who drank a shot of beetroot juice before being randomly assigned to chew either sugary chewing gum or sugar-free gum for three to six hours. After at least one week, participants repeated the experiment using the other type of gum. Researchers monitored blood pressure while analyzing saliva and blood samples throughout the experiment. The results were striking:
Despite the encouraging findings, researchers strongly emphasize that people should not rely on sugary gum to manage hypertension. The blood pressure-lowering effect lasted only a few hours, while regular consumption of sugary products is associated with tooth decay, weight gain, and metabolic disorders.
Instead, the study provides important insight into how the oral microbiome influences heart health and how scientists may eventually develop safer methods to improve nitrate conversion without increasing sugar intake. Co-author Dr. Charlotte Mills from the University of Reading said future research will focus on creating tooth-friendly and metabolically healthy approaches that replicate the same effect.
The findings could also interest athletes. Beetroot juice and nitrate supplements are already widely used to improve endurance and exercise performance by boosting nitric oxide production. Researchers believe that optimizing conditions inside the mouth may further increase the body's ability to convert dietary nitrate into beneficial compounds, potentially enhancing both athletic performance and cardiovascular health.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
