DROPPING BEETS

BEETS THE MAGICAL VEGETABLE

As athletes we're always looking to push the envelope and lower our PRs, increase the distance we run or eat up the track at blazing speeds. Luckily for us there are some tools we can use to get there, GPS watches help us monitor our speed and distance, some even have heart rate built in, shoes are getting lighter and more responsive. The food we eat can have a tremendous impact on our abilities and Beets are a superfood of sorts. Check out some reasons why Beets may just be the key to your next PR. 

Lower Your Blood Pressure. Drinking beet juice can lower your blood pressure, beets are loaded with nitrates, which are converted into nitric oxide in your body. Nitric oxide is great at relaxing and dilating your blood vessels thus improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure. As athletes, improving blood flow is key to reducing muscle fatigue.

Boost Your Stamina. Now this sounds like my cup of tea...I mean beet juice. A study done at the University of Exeter's School of Sports showed that cyclists who consumed 500ml of beet juice over six days were able to cycle 16% longer when cycling to exhaustion. Now I'm no scientist but 16% sounds like a whole lot...

Fight Inflammation. Beets are a unique source of betaine, a nutrient that helps protect cells, proteins and enzymes from environmental stress. As athletes and runners reducing inflammation is key to keeping us running healthy.

Now we all know eating beets won't solve all of your ailments or garrantee your next 5k is the fastest of your career, but taking care of yourself and putting in the work is one surefire way to get there. Eating healthy and training smart is definitely one way to put yourself on the road to success. 

Written with help from the following sources. Check them out to learn more about how awesome Beets are! Also if you have anything to add feel free to do so in the comments section! 

  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23231777
  • http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/01/25/beets-health-benefits.aspx
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19661447
  • http://www.active.com/cycling/articles/can-beet-juice-instantly-improve-your-endurance
Bob BischoffRhode RunnerComment