Martha Stewart has shared a surprising health tip from her cardiologist: a simple smoothie ingredient can have effects akin to “taking Ozempic.” This daily addition has transformed her routine.
On a recent podcast episode, the lifestyle guru revealed that her doctor recommended beetroot powder for its potential benefits on cardiovascular health and weight management.
“You lose weight with it,” Stewart shared with her guest, author and jewelry designer Jennifer Fischer. “It’s extremely good for heart health.”
She noted how delicious it is when added to her daily green juice, which includes spinach, cucumber, ginger, orange peel, celery, and parsley.
“It’s a very good juice, but now with the beets, it’s even better,” Stewart commented. “I’m quite pleased with the beets. I don’t know if it’s acting like Ozempic for me yet, but we’ll see,” she added.
In addition to smoothies and juices, this vibrant powder can easily be mixed into yogurt, oatmeal, or hummus. It can also be used in baking, enhancing cakes or even pasta dough.
Nutrition experts explain that beetroot functions quite differently than the GLP-1 drug Ozempic; there is limited evidence suggesting it leads to long-term weight loss. It does not influence appetite or blood sugar hormones but improves circulation by boosting nitric oxide levels. Research has associated it with modest benefits like lower blood pressure, enhanced exercise performance, and potential cognitive benefits.
“Beetroot, in any form, is abundant in inorganic nitrates,” stated Theresa Link, a registered dietitian from Nebraska working with Virta Health, specializing in type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity.
“Upon consumption, your body converts these nitrates into nitric oxide, which serves to relax and expand blood vessels,” Link explained to Fox News Digital.
“When blood vessels expand, several beneficial outcomes occur: blood pressure may decrease, blood flow improves, oxygen delivery to tissues and muscles increases, and overall cardiovascular performance can enhance.”
Nitric oxide can also optimize mitochondrial function, enabling better oxygen utilization. This contributes to the emphasis on beet products for promoting heart health and exercise performance, Link emphasized.
A review published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that beetroot juice supplements may improve performance in high-intensity exercise and support endurance.
Furthermore, studies have shown that consuming beet juice can lead to modest reductions in blood pressure.
In a 2025 study published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, participants who consumed beetroot juice twice a day for two weeks saw significant declines in blood pressure.
Other research indicates these effects may be short-lived; blood pressure reductions peak within a few hours and tend to diminish after about ten hours. Thus, consistent intake may be necessary to sustain these benefits.
Experts advise that while these reductions can be impressive, beet juice should not substitute prescribed blood pressure medications.
There’s also growing interest in the impact of beetroot on cognitive function. A small trial published in the European Journal of Nutrition revealed that adults taking a three-gram chewable beetroot supplement showed improvements in specific memory tasks, although further studies are needed for conclusive results.
For those inspired by Stewart’s juice habit, the form of beetroot consumed matters significantly.
“High-quality beetroot powder holds a much higher concentration of inorganic nitrates compared to whole beets,” Link explained.
“One tablespoon of powder can deliver a similar nitrate dose to several whole beets, meaning you can enjoy the benefits of nitric oxide with fewer carbohydrates and less food intake,” she added.
However, Link cautioned that selecting powder means forgoing the natural fiber found in whole beets, which is essential for digestion, gut health, and blood sugar regulation.
When shopping for beetroot products, it’s vital to check labels. “Opt for standardized extracts over dehydrated beet powder, as these extracts specify the nitrate content per scoop,” Link advised.
Quality and sourcing can vary greatly in plant-based supplements.
Some beetroot products have been found to contain trace heavy metals like cadmium and lead, so it’s recommended to select powders that undergo third-party testing for quality and purity.
Notably, beet supplements may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those with kidney stones, low blood pressure, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Fox News Digital has reached out to Stewart’s team for additional comments.
