Do You Want a 'Younger' Brain? British Researchers Reveal a 'Secret' Royal Beverage

Who wouldn't want a younger brain, one whose cognitive functions remain flawless even at more advanced ages? A new study conducted by researchers from Wake Forest University in North Carolina and Queen Mary University in London found that drinking beet juice before exercise strengthens the brain and may even prevent dementia.

The study involved 26 individuals aged 55 and older who suffered from high blood pressure. Participants were divided into two groups, with one group asked to drink beet juice about an hour before a 50-minute treadmill walk, while the other group performed the walk without beet juice consumption. Participants carried out the exercise three times a week for six weeks, and the results were remarkable.

Those who drank the juice were much healthier both cognitively and emotionally, and it's easy to see why: "Beets contain nitrate, a substance that helps improve blood flow in the brain," explains Professor Jack Rejeski, the study's lead researcher.

In the body, nitrate converts into nitric oxide, which, according to Professor Rejeski, performs wonders, especially in the brain. "Nitric oxide is a very strong molecule that travels to areas in the body that consume high amounts of oxygen, and the brain is a heavy 'consumer' of oxygen. Adding beet juice to the exercise routine helped the brain receive the vitality it needs, similar to what you see in younger individuals. Combining the drink with exercise strengthens certain areas of the brain cognitively and may even prevent dementia in the future," he says.

In a similar recent study conducted at Queen Mary University in London, researchers found that daily consumption of a glass of beet juice significantly lowers high blood pressure levels and improves brain functions.