Beet juice can lower blood pressure — sometimes too much

This wouldn't be a problem if we had a protocol on amounts to use per bodyweight and sex to keep the proper amount of nutrients circulating in our bloodstream.

Beet juice can lower blood pressure — sometimes too much

A glass of beet juice has been found to lower systolic blood pressure more than some anti-hypertensive medications, write Joe and Teresa Graedon.

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Joe

and

Teresa Graedon

Syndicated columnists

Q: I read that beet juice is good for your health and heart. I have high blood pressure and take losartan and metoprolol to control it. I also had three stents inserted in my arteries almost four years ago.
I started to drink small amounts of beet juice in February. Within two days I had episodes of lightheadedness, vertigo and nausea.
That might have been the result of food poisoning, so I held off drinking more beet juice for several weeks. Three days ago I drank a bit more, and again I had episodes of lightheadedness after a couple of hours.
Is there any possible relation to beet juice?

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A: Adding beet juice to medications like losartan and metoprolol might have lowered your blood pressure too much. Symptoms of low blood pressure include lightheadedness, dizziness, feeling faint and nausea.
One study discovered that a glass of beet juice lowered systolic blood pressure by over 8 points (Hypertension, February 2015). That’s more than some anti-hypertensive medications.
We would encourage you to measure your blood pressure at home. If it is under good control with the medications you are taking, your doctor may advise you to avoid beet juice.