Vegetables such as beetroot, spinach, and kale contain nitrates, which the body uses to help blood vessels relax.
This can improve blood circulation and have a positive effect on blood pressure.
For nitrates to work, they must first be converted into nitrites. According to researchers from King's College London, cited by The Sun, this process is carried out by bacteria in the mouth.
Researchers investigated a new method
The study involved 14 participants. They drank 70 milliliters of beetroot juice and then chewed gum for several hours.
Also read: What drinking green tea every day may do to your heart, cholesterol and immune system
The researchers measured both blood pressure and nitrite levels in the body.
The results showed that sugar-containing chewing gum significantly increased the amount of nitrites.
Nitrite levels rose by 25 percent in the blood and 45 percent in the mouth. However, sugar-free chewing gum did not produce the same effect.
According to the researchers, this is likely because sugar makes saliva more acidic, which helps convert nitrates into nitrites.
Also read: Researchers warn: High sugar intake may affect mood and mental health
Produced a small reduction in blood pressure
Although the effect was limited, the researchers measured an average reduction in blood pressure of between 1.9 and 2.7 mmHg.
The researchers emphasize that the effect lasted only a few hours and that the method cannot replace medication.
Nevertheless, the study suggests that the combination of beetroot juice and sugar-containing chewing gum may temporarily increase the body's production of nitrites and thereby contribute to a modest reduction in blood pressure.
Also read: Exercise may work as well as your antidepressant - and this type works best
Also read: A plant-and-fish diet may cut frailty and add healthy years - and you eat more, not less
This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.