A specialized medical team performed a qualitative surgical operation on a patient suffering from severe friction in the lumbar vertebrae, using a minimally invasive surgical intervention technique with the help of the surgical robot “ExcelsiusGPS”, as the first operation of its kind in Saudi Arabia, within the advanced therapeutic services at the “Prince Nayef Center for Excellence and Medical Innovation.”
Technologies that rely on integrating advanced surgical navigation with the robotic arm contributed to the patient regaining his ability to move and walk during the first hour of the operation, and reducing the impact on the surrounding tissues.
The surgical robot system integrates advanced surgical navigation with the robotic arm, allowing the surgeon to accurately plan and direct surgical instruments during the operation.
This achievement comes as part of the first achievements of the center affiliated with the Medical Cities Operation Program in the Ministry of Interior, which was inaugurated by Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, Minister of Interior, on Wednesday.
The center aims to enhance spine surgery services, employ advanced medical technologies, and benefit from national competencies and global expertise in developing surgical practices and transferring knowledge, thus contributing to improving the quality of specialized care provided to beneficiaries.
The success of the operation represents a step in developing advanced treatment models within centers of excellence, and supporting the readiness to operate medical cities, by providing specialized care that combines expertise and modern technologies, and puts the beneficiary’s quality of life and speed of recovery at the top of priorities.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud listened to an explanation from Dr. Saleh Al-Mohsen, General Supervisor of the Medical Services Department and the Security Forces Hospital Program, about the center’s objectives for developing quality medical services and transferring knowledge in partnership with international expertise in the fields of spine surgery, sports medicine and robotic surgery.
The center seeks to contribute to building advanced care models that combine national competencies, modern technologies and medical innovation, raise the quality of care, improve the beneficiary’s experience, and enhance the efficiency of medical practice and the sustainability of excellence.
During his tour of the center, the Minister of the Interior was briefed on the advanced operating room and its dedicated robot for spine surgeries, which works within an advanced navigation system that supports the surgeon in planning and carrying out surgery, and the “Da Vinci 5” system for minimally invasive robotic surgery, which allows the surgeon to control surgical tools.
He also looked at the hybrid interventional radiology suite, and the capabilities it provides for precise medical imaging and guiding therapeutic procedures, as well as the innovation center and artificial intelligence laboratory, which was established in cooperation with the company “HUMAIN”.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud watched a presentation on the Innovation Center and the decision-making mechanism, and the “Artificial Intelligence for Medical Care” platforms, “Azm”, “Operating Medical Cities”, and the “Aman Health” application.
The tour included the hospitalization rooms, where he was briefed on the conditions of a patient, the intensive care room, the “Azm” laboratory for innovation in mental health, the automated pharmacy, the rehabilitation center, and the programs it provides that use robots and interactive exercises.
The inauguration was attended by Prince Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf, Acting Deputy Minister of Interior, Dr. Hisham Al-Falih, Assistant Minister, Engineer Thamer Al-Harbi, Assistant Minister for Technology Affairs, and Major General Khaled Al-Arwan, Director General of the Minister’s Office for Studies and Research.
Daily food choices play an important role in determining health status, and beets are among the foods whose ability to help lower blood pressure is supported by scientific evidence. In addition to its health benefits, beets are characterized by their reasonable price and availability throughout the year, as well as their ease of inclusion in various diets.
Why is beetroot a great choice?
There are many foods that are beneficial for heart health, but beets have strong clinical evidence of their ability to lower blood pressure, mainly because they contain natural nitrates.
Among the most prominent scientific evidence is a comprehensive review published in 2024, which collected the results of 14 previous meta-analyses, which included 113 studies and more than two thousand participants.
About 90 percent of the experiments used beet juice as a source of nitrate.
The results showed that taking nitrates reduced systolic blood pressure, which is the highest number in a blood pressure reading, by about 3 millimeters of mercury within hours of taking a single dose.
When continuing to take it for a period ranging between one and two months, the average decrease increased to about 4 millimeters of mercury in systolic pressure, and 2.4 millimeters of mercury in diastolic pressure, which is the lowest number in the blood pressure reading.
People with pre-existing high blood pressure had the greatest improvements, and higher nitrate intake was associated with stronger effects.
The researchers also noticed signs of improved blood vessel health, including decreased arterial stiffness and increased ability to expand, which helps improve blood flow.
However, the researchers pointed out some limitations: most trials were less than two months long, the quality of a number of scientific reviews was average or limited, and long-term effects are still being studied.
Despite these limitations, a consensus of results from more than 100 studies suggests that regularly eating nitrate-rich foods, such as beets, may help improve blood pressure levels.
How does beetroot help lower blood pressure?
Beetroot is one of the richest food sources of nitrates, which are natural compounds consisting of nitrogen and oxygen that plants absorb from the soil.
When eating beets, the body absorbs nitrates through the small intestine, then returns about a quarter of them to saliva.
There, beneficial bacteria on the tongue convert nitrates into nitrites.
After nitrite is swallowed, it turns inside the body into nitric oxide, a gas that helps the smooth muscles in the walls of blood vessels relax.
Relaxing the blood vessels causes them to expand, allowing blood to flow more easily and reducing pressure on the artery walls.
This effect usually peaks two to three hours after eating beets.
But eating beets once is not enough to achieve continuous benefits, as its effect declines within about a day. Therefore, including it regularly in the diet is important for people seeking to lower blood pressure.
It is noteworthy that the use of antibacterial mouthwash may limit these benefits, because the process of converting nitrates into nitrites depends partly on the bacteria in the mouth.
Beetroot also contains potassium, which helps the body achieve balance with sodium, which is an important factor in regulating blood pressure.
What are the best ways to eat beets?
Research has shown benefits associated with lowering blood pressure when consuming between 200 and 800 milligrams of nitrates daily, an amount that can be obtained approximately from a cup of beet juice or a small dose of concentrated juice, depending on the concentration of nitrates.
Whole beets also contain good amounts of nitrates, but they vary depending on the type of plant and the soil in which it grows.
It can be included in the diet in several ways:
1. Whole beets
It can be eaten grilled or steamed, added to grain dishes or salads, or used to prepare veggie burgers.
It can also be peeled, grated raw, and added to salads.
Boiling beets in water, although common, may lead to the loss of part of its nitrate content.
2. Beetroot juice
Beet juice is one of the forms most often used in blood pressure studies, because it provides a concentrated dose of nitrates.
Although it contains less fiber than whole beets, it is a convenient way to obtain dietary nitrates.
It is preferable to choose 100 percent natural juice, without added sugar, or concentrated types that can be consumed directly or added to shaken juices with fruits, such as berries.
3. Pickled beets
Pickled beets are available ready-made in packages and jars, and can be added to salads, sandwiches, and burgers.
But some types contain high amounts of sodium, which may conflict with the goal of lowering blood pressure. Therefore, it is preferable to eat it in moderation and choose types that contain less salt.
How to enhance the benefits of beets for blood pressure?
Despite the benefits of beets, it is not a single treatment for high blood pressure. Rather, it is preferable to eat it as part of a healthy diet that relies on natural or minimally processed foods and includes a variety of plant sources.
To achieve the greatest possible benefit, it is recommended to follow a number of eating habits:
- Eat vegetables rich in nitrates: such as arugula, spinach, and lettuce, in addition to diversifying other vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, and potatoes.
- Increase potassium-rich foods: such as beans, lentils, potatoes, bananas, and yogurt, to help balance sodium.
- Reduce salt consumption: by preparing more meals at home and limiting ultra-processed foods and restaurant meals.
- Relying on plant foods: such as whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and fruits.
In conclusion, scientific evidence indicates that including beets regularly in a balanced diet may help lower blood pressure and improve blood vessel health, but it does not replace prescribed medications or medical follow-up for people with high blood pressure.
Both walnuts and almonds help promote heart health, thanks to their containing healthy fats and beneficial nutrients. But deciding which option is best depends on each person's health goals, whether it's lowering cholesterol levels, regulating blood pressure or reducing inflammation.
Walnuts are richer in Omega-3 acids.
Walnuts are considered one of the most beneficial nuts for heart health, as they contain a high percentage of omega-3 fatty acids, especially alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is one of the plant types of omega-3.
These acids play an important role in reducing inflammation and supporting cardiovascular health.
One serving of walnuts, which is equivalent to about 28 grams, contains approximately 2.5 grams of alpha-linolenic acid.
Walnuts are also a rich source of antioxidants, such as polyphenols, which may help combat oxidative stress, which is an imbalance between harmful free radicals and the antioxidants that neutralize them.
Almonds are rich in healthy fats and nutrients
Almonds contain large amounts of monounsaturated fats, which are linked to important benefits for heart health.
It also contains vitamin E and dietary fiber, which help reduce oxidative stress associated with the development of heart disease.
Almonds also provide a group of essential minerals, including calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium, in addition to beneficial plant compounds, such as flavonoids, plant sterols, and phenolic acids.
Magnesium, in particular, plays an important role in supporting blood vessel health and helping to regulate blood pressure.
The effect of walnuts and almonds on blood pressure and cholesterol
- Blood pressure
A study in which participants ate walnuts daily, while reducing saturated fat consumption, showed a decrease in central blood pressure.
Central blood pressure is the pressure inside the ascending aorta, and is one of the indicators associated with the risk of heart disease and strokes.
Also, studies have linked eating almonds to lower blood pressure, which may contribute to improving heart health and reducing the risk of heart disease.
It is believed that these benefits are due to the monounsaturated fats and minerals found in almonds, especially magnesium and potassium.
- Cholesterol
A study showed that healthy older adults who ate half a cup of walnuts daily for two years had lower levels of bad cholesterol (LDL), including some types linked to heart disease.
One serving of walnuts also contains about two grams of dietary fiber, which may help improve cholesterol levels.
On the other hand, multiple studies have examined the effect of almonds on blood fat levels, including cholesterol and triglycerides.
The results of these studies indicate that eating almonds may lead to a decrease in total cholesterol levels by up to 25 percent, and bad cholesterol by up to 35 percent, according to some research results. These percentages do not mean that they are expected results for all people.
Studies have also indicated that eating almonds may help raise or maintain good cholesterol levels (HDL).
Good cholesterol plays an important role in transporting harmful cholesterol from the arteries to the liver, where it is broken down and eliminated.
Which is better for heart health?
The answer depends on the health benefit the person is seeking.
- Walnuts to provide omega-3 and reduce inflammation: They are the best option for those who want to increase consumption of plant-based omega-3 acids and benefit from their anti-inflammatory properties, as almonds contain smaller amounts of them.
- Almonds to support blood pressure regulation: They may be a suitable option for those seeking to increase their consumption of magnesium and potassium, which help maintain healthy blood vessels and regulate blood pressure.
- Almonds to improve cholesterol levels: Some studies indicate that they may have a slight advantage in reducing harmful cholesterol and maintaining good cholesterol levels, thanks to their richness in monounsaturated fats.
Ultimately, walnuts and almonds can be included in a heart-healthy diet, as they each provide different and complementary nutritional benefits.
Diversifying them, instead of being limited to one type, may be an appropriate way to benefit from the nutrients they contain.
