Beet Juice May Boost Brain Health

New research shows that drinking beet juice^[1] could boost blood flow to your brain and possibly protect against dementia. In a small study^[2] from Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry, scientists discovered that subjects given beet juice had increased blood flow to brain regions associated with aging-related cognitive impairment.

The study involved 14 adults, all of whom were age 70 or older. Over the course of a four-day experiment, researchers found that following a beet-juice-enriched diet helped stimulate circulation to white matter in the frontal lobes. According to the study’s authors, poor circulation in this part of the brain is often linked to a higher risk of dementia.

Marked by a strong flavor, beet juice is often blended with other juices (like apple or carrot) before drinking. Past studies show that drinking beet juice may also tame inflammation^[3], keep blood pressure^[4] in check, and enhance exercise stamina.

References

1. ^{^} beet juice (altmedicine.about.com)
2. ^{^} study (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
3. ^{^} inflammation (altmedicine.about.com)
4. ^{^} blood pressure (altmedicine.about.com)