Beetroot juice could make you ride for longer
- Friday, 7 August 2009
- 2 Comments
Scientists at the University of Exeter have found that drinking beetroot juice can increase your stamina, allowing you to exercise for up to 16 per cent longer.
Eight men aged between 19-38 were involved in the study. Each was given 500ml of beetroot juice to drink daily for six days and then subjected to a set of tests on an exercise bike.
Subsequently, the men were subjected to the same procedure but with the beetroot juice swapped for blackcurrant juice.
When comparing the test results, the researchers were astonished at what they found. Not only was stamina increased, but blood pressure was reduced when the men drank beetroot juice. Blackcurrant juice gave no performance gains.
The 'magic' ingredient of beetroot juice is thought to be its nitrate content, which reduces the body's uptake of oxygen thereby allowing you to exercise for longer.
A full article on the study can be found in the August 6 edition of the Journal of Applied Physiology.
Reader comments
Add your commentsAugust 13 17:26
michael phlebas
Your last sentence expresses something different for my understanding. An increased dietary nitrate intake should reduce the o2 cost during exercise and not the uptake?
May 28 10:04
Jacquie
TOP SECRET
This could be your secret weapon to beat them youngsters to the post. Will's probably quaffing gallons of it already and not telling you. Ha Ha. Was just checking out how to make it, not sure if you cook it or not and this popped up. Have bookmarked it for you. JaxXX