In February 2019 researchers from Brazil published the results of their study to assess the effect of beetroot juice on post-exercise blood pressure levels in obese individuals. Fourteen individuals with no history of hypertension consumed either 200ml beetroot juice and undertook 40 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, or 200ml fruit soda and undertook the same exercise session or 200ml water and undertook no exercise. The blood level of nitrites and nitrates was measured and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure levels evaluated. Results showed that the level of nitrites and nitrates increased significantly following the consumption of the beetroot juice and remained elevated until 1 hour after the exercise, whilst there was no change following the fruit soda and water. In addition, the beetroot juice and exercise session appeared to reduce the systolic blood pressure level by 5.3 mmHg for 1-6 hours when compared to the water only session, and by 3.8 mmHg when compared to the fruit soda and exercise session. No significant changes were observed for diastolic blood pressure levels.
de Lima Bezerra ÁD et al. Effect of Acute Dietary Nitrate Supplementation on the Post-Exercise Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Obese Males: A Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Trial. J Sports Sci Med. 2019 Feb 11;18(1):118-127