Beet Juice Can Really Make You Stronger
Everyone has their own pre-competition rituals, but I swear everyone in the locker room thought I was a weirdo for eating beets before games. You need to eat something, right? And beets can really help you in sports that require bursts of strength.
Beets are rich in nitrates, which your body converts into nitric oxide (not related to laughing gas – it’s nitrogen , not nitrogen). Nitric oxide, a hormone that helps increase blood flow; Viagra, for example, interferes with the nitric oxide pathways. Nitric oxide is beneficial for exercise because it increases blood flow to the muscles.
Friedman’s Sprout discusses several studies to support this: in many (but not all ) cases, people who drank a little beetroot juice were able to use a little more “power” —think explosive bursts of power — than people who didn’t. t. It will not help you in a marathon, but it may help a little in weightlifting or in sports where you need to make sharp and strong movements.
However, beware of supplements that promise magical powers. The effect is small and the additives can be sketchy . Expensive beetroot powders and beet-focused sports drinks are probably not worth the cost. But if you like the taste of beets, consider adding juice or the vegetables themselves to your pre-competition lunch.
Should athletes add beet juice? | Friedman’s sprout