Beetroot Juice And Mouth Bacteria

Written By Kassandra Foreman / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

New studies are showing a connection between consuming beetroot juice or others high in nitrate foods can assist in maintaining healthy blood vessels and even maintain brain function during aging. One study uses healthy people of ages 79 to 80 and tests the benefits of inorganic nitrate on the oral bacteria that help nitrate make nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide is necessary for the health of blood vessels and how the correct signals are sent to the brain. As people age they produce less nitric oxide and this is detrimental to the health of the brain and the blood vessels. By increasing the nitrate, the nitric oxide is increased, and health improves.

Good and bad bacteria

This study has shown an increase in good bacteria that boost the health of the vessels and the brain, help maintain cognitive function and lower blood pressure all while decreasing the levels of bacteria that are responsible for disease and increased inflammation.

“Our findings suggest that adding nitrate-rich foods to the diet – in this case via beetroot juice – for just 10 days can substantially alter the oral microbiome for the better,” says professor and author Anni Vanhatalo of the University of Exeter.

While previous studies have shown differences between the bacteria of people in different age groups, this is the first one that has looked at a diet high in nitrate and the effects in this manner. This new information can be instrumental in helping people to age in a healthy way. “Maintaining this healthy oral microbiome in the long term might slow down the negative vascular and cognitive changes associated with aging,” Vanhatalo added.

When discussing the benefits of this research, the results show that altering the diet can help maintain the health of blood vessels - which can improve blood pressure - and the brain health that can improve memory and concentration among others.

There are groups of bacteria in the mouth that work well together and encourage each other in certain ways, and this research created tests that would address these groups and see how they work together and if they are improved by adding beetroot juice to the diet.

The results showed that the groups of mouth bacteria causing inflammation where reduced after including a nitrate supplement, and that those causing digestive concerns such as Clostridium where reduced as well.

Increasing healthy bacteria in the microbiome

Further research will include other groups of participants that are not in as good of health as the first group. A joint study with the University of Exeter Medical School is helping to “investigate interactions between the oral bacteria and cognition to better understand how the diet could be used to delay cognitive decline in older age.”

These new groups of studies could change how we eat in order to maintain better health as we age, and may help people prevent cognitive decline through improving their bacteria balance and increasing the healthy bacteria in the microbiome.

Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Kassandra Foreman has been writing freelance for five years now and enjoys learning about new things to write about. When not writing she teaches yoga and meditation with a focus on health and fitness.

Reviewed By:    

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.