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If you have hypertension, your doctor has probably prescribed medicine to lower high blood pressure. You may have gone through quite an extensive period of trial and error to find a drug that works without causing unacceptable side effects. As a result, you might be wondering whether there are foods that could help against hypertension. The good news: the answer is yes. You don’t always have to rely on medications.
Former Pharmacist Loves Natural Remedies:
Q. I went to pharmacy school and followed that with an internship and a pharmaceutical sales position. In addition, I was married to a pharmacist for decades. Pharmaceutical companies have amassed too much power, in my view.
To fight back, we need scientific tests of herbal cures and vitamins. Big Pharma will never do this because there is no money to be made from herbs.
However, as an 80-year-old who only takes magnesium and a vitamin, I can attest to beet juice and red hibiscus tea for lowering blood pressure and magnesium to strengthen bones and eliminate bedtime muscle cramping and restless leg syndrome. I have been badgered many times to take blood pressure medicine when I was sick and my readings were a bit high. By resisting, I am still healthy with 120 over 76 average readings.
A. You are right that hibiscus tea and beet juice can lower high blood pressure. So can magnesium (Magnesium Research, Aug. 1, 2021). We urge people to work with their healthcare providers to make sure, as you have, that their natural remedies are doing the job.
Trouble with Pills for High Blood Pressure:
Q. I have had unpleasant side effects from every blood pressure pill my doctor has prescribed. I think I tried over six different types. And the worst part? My BP never got consistently lower – and it sometimes spiked to 190/150.
I started mixing a couple of ounces of beet juice with my morning orange juice. Within a week, my BP was much more in the normal range.
I do not care for the taste of beet juice, though. So I switched to beet root capsules (605 mg of beet extract). I take two in the morning and my BP is now in the normal range.
A. Thanks for sharing your success story. There are a number of studies that suggest beet juice can raise nitric oxide levels, which in turn lower blood pressure (Nutrients, July 22, 2019).
There are many ways to manage hypertension. Weight loss, meditation, deep breathing, exercise and diets high in minerals such as magnesium and potassium have all been shown to help. Keep reading for more information. In addition, you can learn more about a variety of non-drug approaches and medicines that can control hypertension in our eGuide to Blood Pressure Solutions.
Difficulty Trying to Lower High Blood Pressure:
Q. I have been dealing with hypertension for years. When I am under stress, my blood pressure goes up to around 150.
My doctor has prescribed lots of different drugs with mixed results. Atenolol caused fatigue and depression. Amlodipine made me dizzy to the point I couldn’t function. Lisinopril caused a horrible cough. Now I am on Diovan with no problems, but I read recently that drugs like this are linked to cancer.
I am ready to try a more natural approach. I heard that beets can lower high blood pressure. How effective are they and what else might help?
Concerns About Blood Pressure Pills:
A. An article in Lancet Oncology (July, 2010) has raised questions about the safety of drugs like Atacand, Diovan and Micardis. The investigators analyzed many scientific studies and concluded that such drugs “are associated with a modestly increased risk of new cancer occurrence.” Drug regulators and clinicians don’t know what to make of this information.
That confusion has intensified since the research was published. More recent studies show that patients taking such drugs are actually less likely to die early of pancreatic cancer (World Journal of Surgery, Sep. 2017). A similar drug, losartan, appears to protect mice from breast cancer (Oncotarget, March 21, 2017). Drugs in this category of angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBS) also seem to provide some protection against prostate cancer (Woo & Jung, Oncology Letters, May 2017). As a result, doctors don’t want to blame these medicines for causing cancer.
Beet Root Juice for High Blood Pressure:
An article published in the journal Hypertension (Sep. 2010) suggests that about 8.5 ounces of beet juice can significantly lower systolic blood pressure. Since then, there have been numerous other studies of how beet root juice affects blood pressure. One placebo-controlled trial confirmed that this juice can reduce sphygmomanometer readings even in healthy adults (Coles & Clifton, Nutrition Journal, Dec. 11, 2012). Another study showed that older overweight people drinking beet root juice had lower systolic values in their daily measurements (Jajja et al, Nutrition Research, Oct. 2014). A daily cup of beet root juice reduced blood pressure and kept it down for a month in a placebo-controlled trial including volunteers with untreated hypertension (Kapil et al, Hypertension, Feb. 2015).
Will Bottled Beet Juice or Canned Beets Help?
Q. I was going to buy some fresh beet juice from the refrigerated section of our supermarket because I read that it could be helpful for high blood pressure. However, the label warned that it was not pasteurized and could be unsafe for the elderly.
I don’t want to take a chance. Would canned beets or juice be useful for lowering blood pressure?
A. Most of the studies demonstrating that high-nitrate beet juice can help control hypertension provided participants with bottled beet juice rather than fresh. According to the Cleveland Clinic, canned beets are great, too. Look for cans with no added salt if possible, since salt added in canning might raise blood pressure for some people.
People Who Have Had Kidney Stones Should Exercise Caution:
One other precaution: those who have suffered kidney stones will want to be cautious about consuming beets or juice. This root vegetable is rich in oxalates that can raise the risk of this painful complication.
Beet Juice No Substitute for Medical Care to Lower High Blood Pressure:
Of course, beet juice shouldn’t be used for blood pressure control without medical supervision. One study shows that people who keep their blood pressure under control with medication may not get additional help from drinking beet root juice (Kerley et al, Irish Journal of Medical Science, Nov. 2017). Exercise may also lower high blood pressure enough to mask the benefit of beet root juice (Shaltout et al, Nitric Oxide, online May 23, 2017).
Still, drinking beet root juice, exercising, practicing slow breathing and other non-drug alternatives should help your effort to control hypertension. Our eGuide to Blood Pressure Treatment offers more information about beet and pomegranate juice plus other non-drug approaches to controlling hypertension.
Share Your Story With Other Visitors:
Have you tried using beet juice to lower your blood pressure? Have you tried other ways to lower high blood pressure? We’d love to hear your stories. Share them in the comment section below.
Jacob
I take amlodipine for my high blood pressure I started drinking beet root juice one cup a day, and it lowered my BP too low. I stopped taking the meds and took beet root juice for 3 weeks, and also went vegan. Yes, I gave up steak😪, and I’m not saying I cured my hypertension, stage 1 but, uh, my blood pressure is normal now. I still check it everyday with two different BP devices. Beet root juice and fruits n veggies. Look at labels for sodium, and stay away from it. I’m 32 yo black male also living with Sickle cell disease. N feel great.
GEORGE
Although it is a specific variety used for beet sugar, presumably all of them have more sugar than other vegetables, so although helping BP, won’t it raise blood sugar?
Retired R
What effects does beet juice have on kidney function? I noticed a reddish tinge to my urine when I drink beet juice.
Terry Graedon
Dear Retired, the red coloring in beets will show up in urine and stool. Not a sign of blood in urine in this case.
Linda
Pickled red beets and hard boiled eggs were part of every family picnic in my childhood in Pennsylvania. Love the taste. Beet juice from fresh boiled beets is quite sweet by itself, if you aren’t fond of the benefits of apple cider vinegar.
Here’s my recipe:
Cook 3 or 4 average-sized organic red beets. Save the juice, peel the beets and cut into chunks. Add a chopped red onion. Refrigerate. When helping yourself to a serving, add crumbled goat cheese or feta. Yum. If desired, add boiled eggs to the refrigerated bowl of beets, juice, and onions.
Lunch: Beets, eggs, feta, a slice of roasted turkey, and spinach sautéed in olive oil and garlic. I’m 82 and healthy with good blood pressure. Replaced carvedilol (beta blocker) with beet juice and hawthorn berry capsules. I’m not a doctor, so am not advising anyone to do same. Just sharing what I do. Fun article! Thanks.
Mary
I’m truly loving this week’s Pharmacy. It reminds me more of the good old days — home remedies, discussing beet juice, grape and pectin, onions, pomegranates!!! Thank you!
Margaret
I began exercising vigorously to lower very high blood pressure. Read a university study showing beet juice increased athletic performance up to 15% over previous best performance in elite athletes. Increased capacity was greatest at 2.5 hours after taking the juice. I began following the study protocol, was stunned at my increased ability and endurance, as was the trainer. (I am an old lady). Quickly lost 25 lbs. without dieting, was able to achieve dead lifts at 100 lbs, barbell squats with 65 lbs. Also learned that it lowers blood pressure, and it lowered mine much more than medication. Read that when beets are processed with heat (as in canning) some of the benefit is lost. The nitric oxide in the juice gradually relaxes blood vessels; there is more oxygen to muscles, increasing strength and endurance. I chop raw beets, blend with water, slowly drink about a cup 2 hrs. before gym. Still take a low dose of medication at this time but not on gym days.
Bob
I am starting to use beet root powder, which has nitrates, Hopefully, I hope I will experience lower blood pressure benefits. I wonder if anyone else has tried this approach.
Barbara
I took one taste of beet juice and gagged! I had to spit it out, plus rinse my mouth. Most awful tasting stuff ever!
Karen
I have a major case of white-coat syndrome. My blood pressure is very high whenever I go to the doctor but in normal ranges at home. Does anyone know if drinking beet juice (or anything else) before a doctor’s visit would provide at least a short-term lowering of my BP?
Pete
What about beet juice tablets? Are they as effective as the juice?
Charlotte
Despite being on medication for high blood pressure it still remained high. Doctor recommended purchasing a blood pressure monitor. I was really surprised at how high the readings were. My late mother suffered from hypertension and three stokes. Needless to say, I was really worried, which did not help the B.P. Recently I started drinking beetroot juice each day. It has made a considerable reduction to my evening blood pressure reading which previously had been really high. I would certainly recommend it.
Angela
I’ve been drinking the following combination of 100% pure juices on an empty stomach each morning: 6 oz beet juice + 4 oz carrot juice + 4 oz blueberry juice + 2 oz apple juice. This drink has had a profound and stabilizing effect on my blood pressure. My morning BP readings previously ranged between 120/80 to 150/80. Now they’re consistently under 110/65. No other change has been made to my diet. I use a brand of “Pure Organic” (not biodynamic) Juices.
SandraLeeBrown
I have been drinking beet juice each day (I buy a product seen on TV) that is in powder form to which I add 8z water/ice. I actually like it (probably because I like beets and also grow my own). I ordered it specifically because of the benes which include adding more oxygen to the blood. My son noticed this new habit and began taking it also last year, as did his wife!!! They put the powder into a smoothie, not caring for the plain drink. Although I think the claim (that you feel the effects in 20 minutes) is exaggerated, I still feel that using the beet for health is a good thing (grown below ground veggies are good for you).
slb Virginia June 9, 2017
Mat Ratra
I use 1 slice of sugar beet with my meal. No, Juice just the beet slice. My BP is controlled & I got rid of my high BP with great success. Physicians tried every thing, and finally I was placed on Diavon, but I’ve eliminated it.
I trust my own judgement rather than relying on physicians.
Susan
NC
I am a 57 year-old female, always had low to normal BP, typically 110/70 or so. I was startled when it went up 20+ points in one year. I found that both my mother and my paternal aunt’s BP went up after menopause, and they BOTH had to go on medication, so I figured I might be getting a double-whammy.
I decided to try beet juice after reading an article on your site. I had been drinking 1 cup of beet juice daily for exactly 2 months when had to go to my Primary for an unexpected visit, and my BP was down to 100/64! Down from multiple readings (all readings were taken by medical professional earlier this year) of 136/91 and 135/81. I told the nurse what it HAD been earlier, she checked my other arm to make sure her reading was correct, and it was still 100/64! She said it would have been higher when I was not well, not lower. Pretty amazing.
I take my beet juice in a smoothie with blueberries along with hemp, turmeric, chia and fiber. My Primary says she loves beet juice, it has so many good things in it. I do not love the taste, but I certainly appreciate the results thus far.
Have there been any studies as to the effectiveness of beet root powder or capsules for lowering BP?
Kathleen
Rochester. NY
is there a beet juice capsule supplement? Maybe that would be a good way to get the beet juice quick with a glass of water. Terry, do you know?
Jac
Won’t beets or beet juice raise blood sugar. I am a diabetic, and have high blood pressure and on medication for both.
juliett
jamaica
yes the beet does work I drink also
juliett
jamaica
I take onion escallion garlic blend togather for my high blood pressure an it work
joy
I started drinking beetroot juice after my doc told me I had high blood pressure 140/90 he put me on a of.that makes me use the bathroom a lot. I refuse to take it. My question is to anybody I’m going through menopause would that make my blood pressure go up sometimes and how often should I drink beetroot juice to keep it down and keep it down always?
lora
Is that an onion Plus Excallion Garlice and how often do you take it? Would onion powder work just as well and garlic powder? Help..
cuz I was on Lisinopril. Blessings thanks
steve
I started drinking beet juice not knowing that it is a diuretic. I am taking 30 mg of chlorothidone. I soon found out that I was more regular, REALLY good wow. My blood pressure dropped way to normal. However because I am a hiker I suffered from horrible cramps. Note to self; this beet juice is very medicinal. I had to cut the pills way back, or actually the beet juice will replace the diuretic pills totally. Anyway it works for me but I have to drink 1/2 cup or less a day or it will just drain me… but its so good for you I am going to add the juice in some amount daily…
eric
so did the beatroot juice really work?
Robin H.
I also found out I had high blood pressure and cannot take medication because of liver cysts. So I decided to try beet root juice. A small amount every day brings my blood pressure down so quickly and it stays that way for the whole day. I also found it too expensive to buy continually so I went out and bought a juicer and juice one beet a day in with other leafy green vegetables. I am telling you, the beet juice works! My blood pressure now when I check it is always on the low side. You won’t regret drinking beet juice, but you need to drink it EVERY day for it to continue to work.
bp1950
A natural way to lower blood pressure every day, would be to drink 2 cups of beet juice a day! I wanted to pass a blood pressure check by my doctor as she wants to wait until my bp is lower before she prescribes a stimulant (for ADHD) to me. She prescribed a third medication. I now take Enalapril 20 mg twice daily, hydrochlorothiazide, which is a diuretic, and the new medication, Amlodipine, which is slow to work – doc said could take three weeks or more.
I had read that drinking two cups of beet juice 2-3 hours prior to a test would lower bp by 10. Well it didn’t, as my bp was higher than ever for my test! (hence my 3rd medication was prescribed). But, the next morning, 24 hours later than my drinking the beet juice, my blood pressure was around 123/72, which for my age, is perfect! So I will drink it 24 hours before the test on my next doctor visit, which is next week! (and also another two cups 2 1/2 hours prior to the test. I will re-post my results then!
Scott
I had the same problem/issue with waking up with high blood pressure in the middle of the night. Do you eat large/late dinners in the evening (after 7:00pm)? I found out that if you eat late in the evening that many times it cause your blood pressure to go up dramatically during the night and early morning (especially if the meal had high sodium content).
The reason is this food will just “sit” in your system for the whole night (instead of being metabolized and worked off during your active daytime hours) and slowly feed into your bloodstream which can dramatically raise your blood pressure at night. Try eating before 7:00 pm and having a large glass of water an hour or so before retiring (spring, mineral or filtered water – not distilled or purified).
Also if you have a juicer, you can juice a a few stalks of celery, a beet and a few carrots which may also help lower your blood pressure during the night.
MB
If you have a vegetable juicer, just juice the beet through it for fresh and highly potent beet juice. Some folks add garlic…
MB
I was once told by a person I highly respected that too much beet juice, especially freshly juiced, is NOT good for the kidneys. This is just a bit of non-official info, but two cups a day seems a bit much.
DK
For about 8 months now, I have been waking up with high blood pressure. I am 62, and so worried about this. My doctor keeps changing, and increasing my medication, but when I am asleep, nothing brings it down. I don’t know what to do anymore. I know when it’s high because my head starts to pound. It’s running 150/99 during the night, and I am waking up with it like that.
It levels out during the day, and sometimes even goes extremely low. I read that sleep apnea can cause this, so I borrowed my husbands CPAP machine for one night, and in 8 months, that was the first morning I woke up, and my pressure was normal. I go to a clinic, so I can’t be too demanding with them about my care, but at my age, I am starting to be concerned about this a lot. Any suggestions?
Gilly
Missouri City, TX
Yes, I agree. I went heavy on the green drinks and added beets, too, and ended up with calcium oxalate stones. To be accurate, I also ate too many nuts. Eating beets and drinking beet juice is very effective for lowering blood pressure, but so is drinking the proper amount of water daily, in my experience.
Tim
How many beets would you have to eat to get some benefits? I’m not a big fan of drinking beet juice but I do enjoy eating beats.
SNH
CHERYEL: His doctor should be consulted and told what you’ve said here. You don’t say whether he stopped his meds on his own, or his doc did, and you didn’t say whether his doc knows about his night-time B/P. If his doc doesn’t think that’s a problem, I would get a second opinion.
Anonymous
My husband only has high blood pressure while sleeping. 150/ 100 to 160/103. His daily blood pressure is 104/75 to 120/80 but at times has dropped as low as 90/60 . He changed his diet eating more fruits,veggies & a lot more physical activity. He used to be on Divan 160 mg & norvac 5mg but as his BP improved during the day he stopped medication. My question is if he went back on medication to try to take care of his sleeping hypertension wouldn’t it bring his good blood pressure during the day too low? How would he keep both day & night at a good level?
Cheryel M.
My husband has had high BP all his adult life and is on an ungodly amount of BP drugs. We would like to try beet juice (without stopping his Rx, of course). Beet juice is $17.00 for 16 ounces at the health food store, so we will be making our own. Do you know how many ounces of water to how many ounces of beets? We will let you know if this works. Thank you for your column.
JEM
My husband has found phenomenal benefits by removing gluten from his diet. He is in very good health; regularly exercises and maintains a healthy weight. But he has been fighting a family tendency towards high blood pressure his whole adult life and since he passed the age of 50 he found he could no longer control it with diet and exercise alone. He began a gluten free diet 8 months ago for stomach issues; and the side benefit has been a dramatic drop in his blood pressure. He was regularly measuring 145/90 plus. Now he is a steady 120/70, the lowest he has ever had. There have been no other changes in his life style and he takes NO meds. Has anyone else heard of this benefit from a gluten free diet?
jw
How often are you suppose to eat these beets or drink beet juice, which is very expensive.
PEOPLE’S PHARMACY RESPONSE: THE RESEARCH USED TWO CUPS DAILY, EVERY DAY. WE DON’T KNOW IF EATING BEETS ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK WOULD BE ENOUGH.
Brent B.
Beets are high in potassium and also great for endurance. Most cases of high blood pressure have a physical reason behind them and the emphasis on drugs is misguided, especially when there are so many non-drug ways to lower blood pressure. Those include meditation, daily exercise, and hawthorn — which moderates blood pressure.
You should avoid bad forms of sodium like MSG, but salt (good forms like sea or kosher) is also something that your body needs. Hippocrates’ advice to “first do no harm” should be followed — try the nutritional approach before resorting to drugs, especially since those drugs have generally been “tested as safe” by the drug companies themselves!
lynda
I eat 3 canned round whole beets with my breakfast. I drink the juice from the 16 oz. can and still eat 2 beets when I finish one can of beets. I do not like to waste the juice although it has sodium according to the can. I am answering this in the summer and my body feels warm in a warm house. I have noticed when I eat cold food or am in very cool air conditioning or in the winter when I keep the house at 65, that my blood pressure goes way up to about 135/87 from a summer low of 110/78.
SNH
There are different kinds of hypertension.
One kind (particularly dangerous) blood pressure is high during sleep. Another, it’s high during work and stress but otherwise normal.
Another, it’s only high in the doctor’s office (white coat hypertension)–probably this kind is high in other situations too.
They should probably be treated differently, which would require 24 hour BP monitoring (there are portable units) but unfortunately this is rarely done and everyone gets the same treatment–and scarily it may be that the people who need treatment the most are untreated.
Chris
Florida
Wonderful advice. A reputable physician should insist you get monitored 24 hours per day for at least 3 days minimum to find your sustained BP condition. If treatment is called for, diet and lifestyle changes are made. Then, another 3 days of 24 hr monitoring. If treatment again is called for, limited use of drugs may be prescribed. Again, 3 days of 24 hr monitoring to see where you are. Remember, the vast majority of BP research is funded by big Pharma and todays doctors get huge incentives from big Pharma. That is why the above protocol is rarely performed. Find a doctor that insists on the above protocol and you have found an ethical and competent physician.
M
One clinical paper in Lancet. We should not jump until science has been verified by other published article. Diovan appears to be safe based on current science.