BEETS BENEFICIAL FOR PERFORMANCE ATHLETES
When you were a kid, and your mom told you to eat your beets, it was because she knew what was good for you. Beets (Beta vulgaris) are inexpensive, yet loaded with vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and antioxidants. Betaine from beets has been a common ingredient in many dietary supplements for years because of its strong antioxidant properties, and also because it helps cells retain water, which in turn helps nutrient utilization and protein synthesis. There has been renewed interest in beets because they have a naturally high concentration of nitrates. This helps enhance the metabolism’s production of nitric oxide (N.O.), the gas that causes blood vessels to dilate, which, in turn, improves nutrient and oxygen delivery to the cells. A recent review by British scientists of sixteen separate studies concluded that beet juice supplementation led to a significant reduction in blood pressure and increased blood flow. Beets have also been shown to boost aerobic and overall exercise capa
