May support brain health

Mental and cognitive skills normally deteriorate with age, increasing the risk of neurodegenerative illnesses such as dementia. Beet nitrates may boost brain function by encouraging blood vessel dilatation and so increasing blood flow to the brain. Beets, in particular, have been demonstrated to increase blood flow to the frontal lobe of the brain, which is related to higher-level thinking such as decision making and working memory.

Furthermore, research on persons with type 2 diabetes indicated that those who ingested 8.5 ounces (250 mL) of beetroot juice daily for two weeks performed 4 percent better on a cognitive function test than those who did not. More study is needed, however, to discover whether beets may be used to improve brain function and lower the risk of dementia in the general population.