Daily dose of beet juice promotes brain health in older adults

[Celebration]

http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-11-daily-dose-beet-juice-brain.html

In this study, the first to find a link between consumption of nitrate-rich beet juice and increased blood flow to the brain, Translational Science Center researchers looked at how dietary nitrates affected 14 adults age 70 and older over a period of four days.

On the first day, the study subjects reported to the lab after a 10-hour fast, completed a health status report, and consumed either a high- or low-nitrate breakfast. The high-nitrate breakfast included 16 ounces of beet juice. They were sent home with lunch, dinner and snacks conforming to their assigned diets.

The next day, following another 10-hour fast, the subjects returned to the lab, where they ate their assigned breakfasts. One hour after breakfast, an MRI recorded the blood flow in each subject's brain. Blood tests before and after breakfast confirmed nitrite levels in the body.

..........snip..............

The MRIs showed that after eating a high-nitrate diet, the older adults had increased blood flow to the white matter of the frontal lobes – the areas of the brain commonly associated with degeneration that leads to dementia and other cognitive conditions.

[LiberalEsto]

1. Free beet juice for Republicans!

Now THERE'S a road to reducing insanity.

;)

[notadmblnd]

2. I love beets

I ate so many once, I thought I was bleeding to death. It took a while before I realized it was the beets.

[tsuki]

3. I've started using beets in my potato salad. Yummy.

[LiberalEsto]

5. That's an Estonian thing

My Estonian mom made a wonderful potato and beet salad called Rosolje for special occasions. Traditionally Estonians use chopped herring and leftover meat in this dish. Here's a vegetarian recipe for Rosolje:

http://www.tastebook.com/recipes/961419-Estonian-Rosolje-Beet-Salad-

[tsuki]

8. I thought that was me being smart. Bubble Burst. LOL. nt

[LiberalEsto]

9. Maybe you're part Estonian and never knew it

You never know ... we lurk everywhere

[BonnieJW]

6. Me Too!

I slice them raw and put them into some vinegar, salt and sugar. I eat them in salads and they have as much crunch as raw carrots, but super sweet.

[KaryninMiami]

4. Hmmm- I recently went to a bar where they served beet infused rum-

Was delicious either on the rocks or in a mojito and a beautiful deep red color. Wonder if that works too...

[RC]

7. Why can't you just use the sugar from the beets?

Would that work.
We have sugar beets free for the picking up from the road sides up here.

[silverweb]

10. I've hated beets since I was a little kid.

Other "icky" foods, like mushrooms, I grew to love as an adult, but the sight and smell of beets still gives me a wave of nausea.

Looks like maybe I should try again to cultivate a taste for them....

[DavidDvorkin]

11. Same here

I don't think I could possibly learn to tolerate them.

[silverweb]

12. I might try.

Emphasis on "might" ... if the mood strikes me when I'm shopping, and I find a recipe that is intriguing/tasty looking enough to try, and I'm convinced that they really are worth going to all that trouble for, and there's nothing else that can give the same benefit.

In other words... not all that terribly likely. :D

[leftyladyfrommo]

13. I love beets.

Now I have an excuse to eat as many as I want. I think they have lots of good stuff in them.