A new study published in the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology suggests that drinking beetroot juice can improve endurance and overall fitness abilities by delivering oxygen to the muscles.
Researchers conducted the study on 14 healthy, sedentary, adult males. Over a 15-day period, participants consumed regular beetroot juice and beetroot juice that was depleted in nitrates in order to determine its effect on endurance, as well as blood flow and blood pressure.
The nitrate-rich beetroot juice was found to improve oxygen delivery and thus reduced the workload of the heart. More so, it lowered blood pressure and vascular resistance, meaning it improved blood flow. These effects were evident in participants both at rest and during exercise.
Although it was a small sample, this study demonstrates that regular consumption of beetroot juice may be a great natural alternative to help improve exercise performance, allowing individuals to engage in exercise for longer periods of time without feeling exhausted right away.
Researchers conclude that their discovery might inspire individuals who are used to a sedentary lifestyle to start engaging in regular physical activity.
Source for Today’s Article:
Lee, J.S., et al., “Effects of chronic dietary nitrate supplementation on the hemodynamic response to dynamic exercise,” American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 2015, doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00099.2015.