Blood pressure is a vital measurement that reflects the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps. It's a key indicator of cardiovascular health, and understanding what your blood pressure numbers mean, is the first step towards maintaining a healthy heart. While various lifestyle modifications and medical treatments exist to manage blood pressure, emerging research is exploring the potential benefits of natural supplements like beet powder.
What is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers: systolic and diastolic.
- Systolic pressure is the pressure when your heart beats (contracts) and pushes blood out to the rest of your body. It's the top number in a blood pressure reading.
- Diastolic pressure is the pressure when your heart rests between beats and fills with blood. It's the bottom number in a blood pressure reading.
Blood pressure is typically expressed as systolic pressure over diastolic pressure (e.g., 120)
Understanding Blood Pressure Categories:
Healthcare professionals generally categorize blood pressure readings as follows:
- Normal: Less than 120 systolic and less than 80 diastolic (120/80 mmHg)
- Elevated: 120-129 systolic and less than 80 diastolic
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 1: 130-139 systolic or 80-89 diastolic45
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 2: 140 or higher systolic or 90 or higher diastolic6
- Hypertensive Crisis7 (Consult doctor immediately): Higher than 180 systolic and/or higher than 120 diastolic8
Maintaining healthy blood pressure is crucial because persistently high blood pressure can strain your heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of serious health problems such as heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and vision loss.
The Role of Nitric Oxide in Blood Pressure Regulation
One of the key players in regulating blood pressure is nitric oxide (NO). This molecule is produced naturally by the body and helps to relax and widen blood vessels (vasodilation). When blood vessels are relaxed, blood can flow more easily, reducing the pressure on the artery walls.Factors like aging, poor diet, lack of exercise, and certain medical conditions can impair the body's ability to produce sufficient nitric oxide, potentially contributing to elevated blood pressure.
Beet Powder: A Natural Source of Nitrates
This is where beet powder comes into the picture. Beetroot is a rich source of dietary nitrates. When you consume beet powder, your body converts these nitrates into nitrite and then into nitric oxide. This natural process can potentially lead to several beneficial effects on blood pressure:
- Vasodilation: Increased nitric oxide levels can help relax and widen blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow and thus lowering blood pressure.
- Improved Endothelial Function: The endothelium is the inner lining of blood vessels. Nitric oxide plays a crucial role in maintaining its health and function. Beet powder may help improve endothelial function, further contributing to healthy blood pressure regulation.
- Enhanced Exercise Performance: By improving blood flow and oxygen delivery to muscles, the increased nitric oxide from beet powder might also enhance exercise tolerance, which indirectly benefits cardiovascular health.
Scientific Evidence: What the Research Says
Several studies have investigated the effects of beetroot juice and beet powder on blood pressure. While more extensive and long-term research is still needed, some findings suggest promising results:
- Studies have shown that consuming beetroot juice or beet powder can lead to a modest but significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in individuals with hypertension.
- The effects appear to be more pronounced in individuals with higher baseline blood pressure.
- Research also suggests potential benefits for improving blood vessel function and reducing arterial stiffness.
How to Incorporate Beet Powder
Beet powder is a versatile ingredient that can be easily integrated into your daily routine:
- Smoothies: Add a teaspoon or two to your morning smoothie for a nutrient boost.
- Juices: Mix it with water or other fruit and vegetable juices.
- Baked Goods: Incorporate it into muffins, pancakes, or bread for a subtle earthy flavor and added nutrients.
- Soups and Sauces: Stir a spoonful into soups, stews, or sauces.
Important Considerations:
While beet powder shows promise as a natural aid for blood pressure support, it's crucial to remember the following:
- Not a Replacement for Medical Treatment: Beet powder should not be considered a substitute for prescribed medications or lifestyle recommendations from your healthcare provider. If you have high blood pressure, it's essential to follow your doctor's guidance.
- Individual Variability: The effects of beet powder can vary from person to person.
- Potential Side Effects: Some individuals may experience mild side effects such as beeturia (red or pink urine or stool), which is harmless. Starting with a small dose and gradually increasing it can help minimize any potential discomfort.
- Consult Your Doctor: If you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medications, especially blood pressure medications, it's essential to consult your doctor before incorporating beet powder into your diet to avoid any potential interactions.
Take control of your Blood Pressure with Stamox
"If you drink a glass of Stamox a day, you can expect to reduce your blood pressure by 8 systolic points, and 4 diastolic points." - Dr. Nils P. Reither
Background
Stamox is made from the best beetroot we can find, and is tested for quality and purity both at the food laboratory approved by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, and at the anti-doping laboratory in Cambridge as required by OlympiaToppen, and is recommended by RELIS at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen.Stamox is not a medicine, and is not intended as a substitute for medicines prescribed by a doctor.
Stamox can Reduce Blood Pressure
High blood pressure increases the risk of becoming seriously ill, having a heart attack and dying prematurely.Blood pressure can be controlled to some extent by a better lifestyle and better eating habits. We know that more exercise, more vegetables and fruit, and less sugar and salt are good for controlling blood pressure.But it can also be helpful to take dietary supplements that reduce blood pressure.Stamox is a standardized powder of beetroot juice, with known amounts of nitrate, betaine and other useful nutrients, and which is dissolved in water. If you drink a glass of Stamox a day, you can expect to reduce your blood pressure by 8 systolic points, and 4 diastolic points. (Systole is when the heart contracts and pushes blood out into the blood vessels, while diastole is when the heart relaxes).
Blood Pressure Values
Here are some examples of blood pressure values, and how Stamox can help to reduce this pressure:
- Blood pressure 90/60 is too low, and it is not recommended to use Stamox.
- 120/80 is normal, but using Stamox will be able to lower blood pressure, 112/76
- 139/89 is the limit value and lower blood pressure is recommended. With Stamox you can expect to reduce blood pressure to 131 / 85
- Blood pressure 140/90 or more is too high and needs treatment.
We will continue updating our website with scientific findings and user experiences from around the world. If you have questions, advice needed, experiences, or feedback, you can contact our Stamox team.
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/high-blood-pressure
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373410
