Western Daily Press (Saturday)
DOCtor’s nOTE
Drinking half a glass of beetroot juice a day could help burn fat and so treat diabetes, scientists believe.
Researchers hope to discover if nitrates in the purple veg help turn white fat cells into brown cells, which are easier to burn.
Participants with type-2 diabetes taking part in a clinical trial will drink half a glass of beetroot juice every day for two periods of 14 days. Their fat cells will be compared to another group drinking a placebo.
Dr Rebecca Neal, of Bournemouth University, said: “Our hope is to show that beetroot juice could be a low-cost, non-invasive alternative to drug treatment, leading to a better quality of life for people with type 2 diabetes.”