People with high blood pressure might want to consider drinking a glass of red juice daily to help naturally lower their blood pressure, a doctor has suggested. Some research has claimed this vegetable-based drink could have similar benefits to "some forms of blood pressure medication".

Speaking during a segment on BBC's Morning Live, Dr Tosin Sotubo-Ajayi claimed that high blood pressure is a serious issue that can lead to a range of health problems. Calling it a "silent killer", the NHS GP said that the condition, although common, tends to get worse throughout the body while causing almost no obvious symptoms.

During a discussion about the condition, presenter Gethin Jones asked the doctor to weigh in on a red juice he was told could help address the issue. The Morning Live regular claimed that he read about the supposed benefits of beetroot (specifically the juice) when it comes to lowering blood pressure."

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Dr Tosin said: "I quite like a little bit of beetroot juice, but it is an odd taste. Research has found that a glass of beetroot juice a day could possibly lower your blood pressure."

The medical expert stressed that these studies had a limited number of participants. She previously suggested that people should take advantage of all options to help lower blood pressure, including medication and making diet and lifestyle changes in line with their doctor's guidance.

Previously, the British Heart Foundation claimed something similar, with research suggesting that patients with high blood pressure who drank 250ml of beetroot juice a day had 'normal' blood pressure readings.

The effect is believed, as Dr Tosin mentioned, to be down to high levels of a type of chemical called nitrates. For those who do not like or cannot eat beetroot, other leafy green vegetables like kale and cabbage have similar levels of nitrates, according to the report by the British Heart Foundation.

In the study, researchers reported that the level of reduction "was similar to that from some forms of blood pressure medication". However, people should never abandon any prescribed medication without consulting a doctor first.

Anyone planning to test these beetroot benefits should be aware that, while people claim the vegetable might lower blood pressure, it is recommended to start with smaller doses to see how your body responds.

People can buy premade cartons or bottles of beetroot juice from retailers such as Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Holland and Barrett. Alternatively, people can make their own juice using recipes such as this from BBC Good Food.