Drink Your Beet Juice to Boost Performance
March 4th 2010 08:00 am
Beet juice may boost athletic performance, increase endurance, lower blood pressure and reduce fatigue, according to a study by the University of Exeter. The researchers found that men who drank beetroot juice were able to cycle for 16% longer than those who drank a placebo. This would allow the cyclist to cover a set distance 2% faster. Participants also had a lower resting blood pressure after drinking beetroot juice than they did after drinking a placebo.
The beetroot juice apparently caused the body to burn oxygen more slowly, thus saving off fatigue. Researchers do not know why beets cause the observed effect, but they believe that the nitrates in the veggie might slow the body’s oxygen uptake.
As one who frowned on beets as a kid, maybe I’ll need to take a more adult approach to beets. As I age I’m looking for any edge I can gain naturally and this bit or research seems promising.
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