Jornal de Distúrbios Nutricionais e Terapia

Abstrato

Beets Go Mainstream

Gary D Millerv

The health benefits for consuming fruits and vegetables, as seen with the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, have generated significant interest over the years, especially in certain sectors of the population looking for alternative approaches to conventional medical treatment. Large scale longitudinal observational studies exhibited the associations between fruit and vegetable intake and reductions in risk for cardiovascular disease [1-5]. While these benefits were initially linked with the rich source of micronutrients - vitamins and minerals - found in these foods, subsequent studies utilizing supplements with these nutrients failed to provide the same effect as intake of the foods [6]. Other phytochemicals have been investigated with mixed results. Currently, a chemical found in many of our vegetables that has stirred considerable interest in treating a variety of diseases associated with poor vascular health is nitrate.