Boost Your Energy and Athletic Performance with Beet Juice

Need to boost your energy? Scientists from the University of Exeter have found beetroot juice to significantly boost workout stamina. According to the BBC, the study looked at exercise performance and the effects of regular supplementation with beetroot juice. The findings could be helpful for people with cardiovascular disease or for those who simply want to run or cycle longer.

Boost Your Energy with Beet Juice

Study subjects included eight men between the ages of 19 and 38. The men drank 500 ml of beetroot juice each day for six consecutive days. Following the six day cycle, the men were tested physically, including an exercise bike test.

The same group was given a placebo of blackcurrent cordial in another six day cycle as a control.

During the beetroot supplementation, the men were able to cycle 92 seconds longer than when they were given the placebo. “This would translate into an approximate 2% reduction in the time taken to cover a set distance,” according to the BBC.

Researchers believe the beetroot juice may work to boost stamina by affecting how the body processes nitrate into nitric oxide, thereby reducing the amount of oxygen burned by the body during a workout. Perhaps most remarkable, the same results can’t be achieved by other means.

According to researcher Professor Andy Jones:

“We were amazed by the effects of beetroot juice on oxygen uptake because these effects cannot be achieved by any other known means, including training…I am also keen to explore the relevance of the findings to those people who suffer from poor fitness and may be able to use dietary supplements to help them go about their daily lives.”

In fact, beetroot could soon be included in virtually all Olympic diet programs due to its ability to provide energy. Other research on the many biological advantages of beetroot shows that using beetroot as a pre-workout meal let to participants running faster and experiencing enhanced overall performance. When compared to cranberries, those who ate beetroot were actually revealed to run 5 kilometers faster.

What does this mean for you? Whether you are an athlete or someone working to regain your health, beetroot juice could be the solution if you are looking to boost your energy. Not everyone likes the earthy taste of beets, but by adding other fruits with it in a smoothie, for example, you can boost your energy and reap the benefits without having to force it down.