Good dietary habits can have lasting effects.
People who ate one cup a day of nitrate-rich vegetables had lower blood pressure and a 12% to 26% lower risk of heart disease, according to data from more than 50,000 people who took part in the 23-year-long diet and health study.
The nitrate-rich vegetables recommended by the researchers included leafy greens such as kale, arugula, chard and spinach, as well as beetroot, parsley, Chinese cabbage, celery, radishes and turnips.