Have you ever wondered why some days climbing a flight of stairs feels easy, while other days it leaves you out of breath? Your muscles matter, but so do your blood vessels.

Think of your blood vessels as highways that carry oxygen and nutrients throughout your body. Blood vessels need to be able to relax and widen so blood can flow more easily. Healthy blood vessels help the heart do its job without working as hard. Normal blood flow also helps the muscles receive necessary oxygen to perform during physical activities.

One of the molecules that helps blood vessels relax and widen is called nitric oxide. Your body makes nitric oxide on its own but your diet, such as too much sugar, can make it harder for your body to produce enough. Eating too much sugar can also lead to insulin resistance, meaning your body’s cells stop responding to insulin more than they should. When this happens, it’s harder for your body to keep your blood sugar under control. Over time, this can increase your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. 

Doctors often prescribe metformin to help people with Type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance control their blood sugar. However, researchers have discovered that metformin can interfere with some of the positive effects that normally occur in the blood vessels when you exercise.

One solution might be found in the most unlikely place: beetroot juice.

Beetroot juice contains a high amount of dietary nitrate which your body can convert to nitric oxide. Because nitric oxide widens and relaxes our blood vessels, it can improve blood flow, making everyday activities such as climbing a flight of stairs feel a little easier.

That is what my research is all about. If beetroot juice can protect the blood vessels, it could lead to new ways to support heart health without taking away the benefits of diabetes medication.

Big discoveries begin with the simplest questions. Could a simple vegetable help keep our blood vessels healthier? We don’t know the answer yet, but that’s exactly what makes science exciting.