This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

OK, I need some opinions on this one. I think this ties into CCSVI and cerebral bloodflow pretty well.

Many of you have mentioned beets and beet juice and with the recent findings about beet juice's benefits in increasing cerebral blood flow, I have been thinking about adding drinking a little beet juice each day as part of my regimen.

My concern is about the high level of vitamin K in beets and my coumadin. I've never had a blod clot and am on the coumadin as a precautionary measure after getting a stent last year.

I've started today with 2 ounces of beet/apple blend juice each morning to see if I notice anything.

Here are some links-

Pubmed abstract:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20951824

Wake Forest study description:
http://news.wfu.edu/2010/11/03/benefits-of-beet-juice/

The participants in the Wake Forest study took 8 ounces a day and had measurable increased bloodflow to the white matter of their frontal lobes.

Just curious to hear some comments

(For those of you wondering what it tastes like, I would describe it as very bland and earthy - not repulsive but not up there with Kool-Aid either!)

A/C

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If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. - Al Einstein

I think Terry Wahls drinks a lot of Beet Juice. I am sure its part of her regimen. It Beet Juice Beetroot in the UK? (purple stuff?:)

I can't comment about the Vit. K and its possible effect with your coumadin course, but I do swear by beet juice, and when combined with carrot juice and grape seed extract, there is nothing better for turning around an optic neuritis.

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My name is not really Johnson. MSed up since 1993

I can't really comment on the nitrate/nitrite benefits but beets are one of the "super foods" as are many other brightly colored foods. In general all foods that have deep hues are rich in antioxidants & great for endothelial health. Berries, that is strawberries, blue berries, raspberries, all berry types, etc also green leafy veggies such as spinach, kale and collards, cruciferous veggies such as broccoli & sprouts, sweet potatoes, melons, carrots, tomatoes are great too.

The brighter the color the better ! And BEETS sure are brightly colored!

So stop smoking, limit caffiene, stay well hydrated, eat a diet rich in color during every meal, and get exercise.....keep moving!

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Cat (Catherine Somerville on FB)
MegansMom
My 35 yo daughter is newly dx 8/19/10 (had 12 symptoms)
Dx with Type A CCSVI- 1 IJV & double "candy wrapper" appearance of her Azygos
Venoplasty done Sept 21, 2010
Doing extremely well-

re beets and vit K... are you talking beetroot, or beet greens?

here is a link to the nutrient breakdown in beetroot boiled - no vit K.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/veg ... cts/2349/2

here is a link to the nutrient breakdown in beet greens. they are a vitamin k powerhouse (yet note how strongly anti-inflammatory they are..)

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/veg ... cts/2812/2

i think the magnesium, vitamin E, vitamin A etc in the beet greens would help balance out the coagulating effects of vit K in beet greens.

my 2 cents on beets: eat em up, roots or greens. within reason of course, and balanced out with a wide variety of other healthy foods.

yum!

jimmylegs

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my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com

I am talking about the BEETROOT.

After looking around the web, it is very unclear whether or not there is any Vitamin K in the beetroot. The greens seem to have all the vitamin K but some Warfarin sites say to not eat beetroot while on Warfarin. Ugh!

Jimmylegs, I think you are right about the beetroot being safe for Warfarin users. I just want to make sure before upping my intake of BEETROOT juice!

I wonder if they used beetroot juice in the Wake Forest study but all they say is beet juice.

Thanks!

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If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. - Al Einstein

I have been on Coumadin for over ten years. The trick is to take the same amount of beetroot every day, an adjust your coumadin so that your INR is between 2 and 3. Alcohol also effects coumadin. It makes it stronger. Again, if you have a drink every day that is fine. The problem arises when you ingest large amount of substances that affect your INR but do not do it every day.