Hot flashes, mood swings, and hormonal fluctuations aren’t the only downsides of menopause. There’s a lot more. A woman’s heart health may also be at risk during menopause, which marks the end of the reproductive cycle. Lifestyle and dietary adjustments are one aspect of managing menopausal health issues. New research suggests that drinking beet juice during menopause may have some health benefits.
A new clinical study from the Pennsylvania State University (Pennsylvania, USA) has found that drinking beetroot juice improves blood flow in the arteries and reduces the risk of heart disease in postmenopausal women. This makes a modest beetroot juice a blessing for women in this difficult period of their later years.
Why should you drink beetroot juice during menopause?
Beetroot juice is rich in nitrates, which help expand and dilate the arteries and veins of your cardiovascular system. The smoother the blood flows from your heart to your entire body, the less strain it will naturally put on your heart. Drinking beet juice regularly may have longer-term benefits for a woman’s heart health than hormone replacement therapy, which is only effective during the first few years of menopause. Over time, increased reliance on hormone therapy may increase the risk of cancer and stroke.
Beetroot juice, on the other hand, is a natural and safe way to improve a woman’s cardiovascular health at this stage. According to the nutritionist, post-menopausal women often suffer from increased blood pressure and reduced vascular function due to hormonal changes, making them more susceptible to heart attacks.
“Beetroot juice contains antioxidants such as betalains, which reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, further protecting the heart,” the nutritionist adds.
The link between menopause and heart health
Menopause poses a great risk to a woman’s heart health. Before menopause, women have ideal estrogen levels in their bodies, and estrogen has a protective effect on the heart, keeping artery walls flexible and elastic. However, during menopause, estrogen levels naturally decline, and women lose their body’s natural ability to protect the heart.
Benefits of Beetroot Juice for Women
According to a study published in Frontiers of Nutrition, consuming beetroot juice daily promotes healthy blood flow after menopause. Beetroot juice, which is rich in nitrates, helps expand and relax blood vessels, protecting postmenopausal women who have low estrogen levels in their body. The study also found that the benefits of drinking beet juice were maintained even in the late postmenopausal stage, suggesting long-term effects in women.
Nitrates, an important component of beetroot juice, are converted into nitric oxide in the blood, which relaxes blood vessels, improves blood circulation and lowers blood pressure. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.
Nitric oxide helps dilating blood vessels, increase blood flow and lower blood pressure, all important factors for cardiovascular health, experts say.
Other Benefits of Beetroot Juice
Beetroot juice has many other health benefits. When consumed regularly, it can:
• Lower blood pressure
• Lower LDL, also known as bad cholesterol
• Increase stamina of exercise
• Increase muscle strength in patients with heart failure
• Reduce or prevent fatty liver disease
• General well-being during adjuvant chemotherapy