I know for a fact that many of you, like all other people, use mouthwashes on a daily basis to quickly freshen your breath and prevent harmful bacteria from breeding in your mouth. But there's a problem – mouthwashes often promote dryness and disrupt the balance of natural microflora.
Recently, scientists have found a natural product that can replace mouthwashes without harming your teeth and mouth. They studied the oral health of athletes prone to gum disease due to high sugar intake (it is often found in many energy drinks). The researchers suggested that they rinse their mouths with beet juice instead of purchased mouthwash.
The experiment showed that beet juice protects teeth from acidic and sweet sports drinks. It actively fights harmful bacteria and reduces the risk of caries. The main hero here is nitrate, which, by the way, is found not only in beets, but also in green vegetables (for example, spinach). So if you are concerned about the fact that beet juice can stain your teeth, opt for a drink with spinach.
Beet juice can be used not only as a mouthwash, but also consumed in moderate amounts.
Just 10 days of drinking nitrate-rich beet juice will bring your oral microbiota to an optimal state.
Consumption of nitrate-rich juice affects the number of bacterial groups in the oral microbiota. In particular, it reduces the number of certain bacteria associated with inflammation (Prevotella and Veillonella) and, most importantly, Clostridium difficile, which can infect the intestines and cause diarrhea. Conversely, bacteria such as Neisseria and Haemophilus associated with a healthy periodontium become relatively more abundant.
Speaking of the benefits of beet juice, I would like to emphasize that previous studies have helped scientists to establish that the substances in beet juice are also good for skeletal and cardiac muscles, as well as for balancing blood pressure and brain function.
To fully enjoy the benefits of beet juice, it is very important to keep moderation in consuming it: as a preventive measure, it is recommended not to exceed the daily dose of 50 ml and to let the freshly squeezed juice infuse for 2-3 hours before drinking it.
To prepare the right juice, it is recommended to choose beets of dark color, elongated shape and without white stripes inside.
Do not salt the juice under any circumstances. And, by the way, sugar is not necessary either. You do not need to add seasonings, spicy herbs. Freshly squeezed vegetable juice should not be heated, otherwise it will turn out to be a broth. Don't preserve the juice, you won't keep it as fresh as after squeezing anyway. Some people like to freeze vegetables in the freezer in pieces, but the juice should not be frozen in this way, its useful properties will decrease. It is better not to prepare too much juice, as after a couple of hours it changes aroma, taste and composition.
Hopefully, these tips will help you prepare the proper beet juice in order to really experience the effectiveness of this healthy natural product.