The Best Drink You Can Have Before Exercising Is Beetroot Juice?

When’s the last time you had a nice cool glass of beetroot juice? If it’s been a while, or never before in your life . . . you might want to rethink that.

Researchers found that athletes who drank beet juice about two-and-a-half hours before exercise saw some serious benefits.

In one study, football players generated about 11% more peak power during sprint tests and reached their top output faster than those who drank a placebo.

Another study tracked mountain climbers going up around 13,000 feet of elevation. The climbers who had beetroot juice before showed better leg strength, improved endurance, stronger grip strength, and reported less calf soreness in the days after the climb.

Apparently, the key is nitrates. The body converts them into nitric oxide, which helps improve oxygen delivery to your muscles. And beets aren’t the only source. Arugula, spinach, Swiss chard, celery, lettuce, and radishes are also packed with nitrates.

(Food & Wine)
Photo by Nick Collins on Unsplash