Foods high in nitrates, such as beets, may have beneficial effects on the diaphragm.
In a new study in the “Journal of Physiology”, researchers assessed a group of mice and randomly assigned half of them to consume a high intake of nitrates for 14 days. After two weeks, muscle samples were extracted from the diaphragm muscle. Compared to the age-matched controls, the mice who were given the nitrates exhibited superior muscle contractile function.
Conclusions
Many patients exhibit impaired diaphragmatic functioning, which can contribute to a host of negative health consequences. Foods high in nitrates, such as beets, may be valuable for promoting the health of this important muscle.
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