What you eat and drink has a direct impact on your blood pressure levels. Certain foods can bring it down, whilst others send it soaring.

Your diet plays such a crucial role that it can actually prevent and manage hypertension. In certain instances, adjusting what's on your plate could mean swerving medication altogether.

Speaking on ITV's Lorraine and via his Instagram account @doctoramirkhan, Dr Amir Khanhighlighted that simple changes like cutting back on salt and eating more bananas can "reduce blood pressure", but there's one particular vegetable that works wonders when juiced – beetroot.

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He explained: "Yes, it's true. Beetroot juice can help lower blood pressure, especially in those with high blood pressure." To see results, he suggests downing roughly 250ml daily of the ruby-red juice.

Beetroot has been something of an unsung hero in clinical nutrition for ages, but nowadays more folk are cottoning on to the fact that this unassuming root veg could boost circulation, and potentially slash blood pressure readings, all without any nasty side effects or a doctor's prescription required, reports the Express.

Breaking down the science, Dr Khan elaborated: "Beetroot juice contains something called nitrates, which are converted to nitric oxide by our body, which widens our blood vessels.

"This lowers our blood pressure and keeps the cells inside our blood vessels healthy as well."

Studies carried out by Queen Mary University of London and backed by the British Heart Foundation also confirm that "drinking a cup of beetroot juice each day could significantly lower the blood pressure of people with high blood pressure". Researchers discovered that individuals with high blood pressure who consumed 250ml of beetroot juice daily saw their readings return to "normal" levels by the study's conclusion.

Dr Khan did issue a warning, though: "Be careful if you're diabetic, as it can push your blood sugars up."

If you're considering giving beetroot juice a go for managing high blood pressure, when you drink it could be significant.

The blood pressure-reducing benefits of beetroot juice can persist for much of the day. For this reason, downing a glass during the morning or early afternoon might prove most beneficial for keeping blood pressure in check throughout your daily routine.

Apart from beetroot, other vegetables packed with nitrates such as spinach, celery, and radishes can similarly encourage nitric oxide production to enhance your cardiovascular health.

Naturally, any dietary adjustments aimed at lowering blood pressure should only be undertaken under a doctor's supervision. Nothing can replace your healthcare provider's professional medical guidance when it comes to managing blood pressure.