Did you know your mouth bacteria could be key to better heart health as you age?

A fascinating study in Free Radical Biology and Medicine (2025) examined the impact of dietary nitrate from beetroot juice on the oral microbiome, nitric oxide levels, and blood pressure in young adults (18-30 years old) compared to older adults (67-79 years old).

In this double-blind trial with 75 participants, folks drank nitrate-rich beetroot juice, a placebo, or used antiseptic mouthwash for 2 weeks each. Key findings:

Older adults experienced a greater drop in blood pressure (up to 4 mmHg) from the nitrate juice, attributed to higher nitric oxide bioavailability.

It worked by suppressing “bad” bacteria like Prevotella (tied to inflammation and diseases like hypertension).

Young people had microbiome changes too, but less impact on BP—though mouthwash slightly reduced their vascular function.

Bottom line: Nitrate-rich foods (such as beets and spinach) may supercharge heart health in later years by modifying your mouth’s ecosystem. Who knew your tongue held such power?

I do take a powdered organic beetroot every day.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891584925008068