The Claim
A single oral dose of 845 mg dietary nitrate from spinach reduces arterial stiffness and central blood pressure within 180 minutes in healthy young adults, with a magnitude of effect equivalent to that achieved after 7 days of daily nitrate intake.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Consuming 845 mg of nitrate from spinach in one meal lowers arterial stiffness and central blood pressure within three hours in healthy young adults, and the reduction is as large as what occurs after seven days of daily nitrate intake.
See the scientific wording
A single dose of 845 mg dietary nitrate from spinach reduces arterial stiffness and central blood pressure acutely within 180 minutes in healthy young adults, with effects comparable to those observed after 7 days of daily intake, indicating rapid vascular responsiveness to nitrate.
When you eat spinach high in nitrate, bacteria in your mouth turn it into nitrite, which enters your blood and becomes nitric oxide. Nitric oxide tells blood vessels to relax, which lowers pressure in your arteries and makes them more flexible.
What the research says
1 studyEating one big serving of spinach with lots of nitrate can lower blood pressure and make arteries more flexible within three hours — and this effect is just as strong as eating spinach every day for a week.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.