Energize your body with beets
Beetroot juice has a reputation for boosting athletic performance, energy and cardiovascular health. The main way it does this is by boosting the production of nitric oxide in the body. Nitrates in beetroot are converted into nitric oxide during digestion and metabolism. Nitrates are first broken down by saliva into nitrites (savour the taste!), which then turn into nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide is a gaseous signaling molecule that is beneficial in small quantities as it causes blood vessels to relax to improve circulation.
This conversion is facilitated by things like vitamin C, polyphenols, and CoQ10 and results in many positive health effects for blood vessels and cells, including vasodilation, improved tissue perfusion of oxygen and nutrients, normalization of blood pressure, and mitochondrial biogenesis (increasing the size and number of the small energy factories that power our cells). The conversion process can take a few hours, so if you plan on drinking beetroot juice before a run or workout, factor this time frame into your plans.
Beetroots also contain minerals, including calcium, iron, magnesium, silica, phosphorus, manganese and potassium, as well as vitamins B1, B2, B6, C and folate. Beets also contain antioxidants that support liver health: betanin is the main red-pigmented antioxidant found in beetroot roots.
In a “Systematic Review1 of the Effects of Beetroot Juice on Endurance in Athletes,” the authors found that beetroot juice can improve cardiorespiratory endurance in athletes in the following ways:
- increased cardiovascular and energy output
- increased time to exhaustion
- increased VO2 max (a measure of lung volume and oxygen-carrying capacity)
- improved cardiorespiratory performance during anaerobic exercise
Flora’s Red Beet Crystals are a nutritious and energizing superfood that helps boost nitric oxide levels in the body to support cardiovascular health and athletic performance. This naturally sweet-tasting and instantly soluble product is a pure concentrate carefully obtained from the juice of freshly harvested organic beetroots.
The beets come from organic farms in Europe and are freshly pressed using hydraulic presses shortly after harvesting. Then, the juice is vacuum-dehydrated, without the use of heat or freeze-drying, to best preserve nutrients and antioxidants. By removing the water, crystals naturally form to create a highly concentrated source of beet benefits; about 10 times more concentrated than beet juice by weight. Each 200g jar is made from the equivalent of 2.6 kg/5.7 lbs of red beetroots. Convenient and tasty, this energizing superfood can easily be added to smoothies, soups, salads, water, or simply taken straight off the spoon.
Certified organic, gluten-free, vegan, and verified by the Non-GMO Project, Flora’s Red Beet Crystals are available to enhance your salads and smoothies and help you run or train your way to a new personal best.