Beetroot juice 'boosts stamina'

[bindeweede]

They focused on eight men aged 19-38, who were given 500ml per day of organic beetroot juice for six consecutive days before completing a series of tests, involving cycling on an exercise bike.



On another occasion, they were given a placebo of blackcurrant cordial for six consecutive days before completing the same cycling tests.
After drinking beetroot juice the group was able to cycle for an average of 11.25 minutes - 92 seconds longer than when they were given the placebo.Well, it was ORGANIC beetroot juice, so, obviously, it would have beneficial effects.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8186947.stm

[NorthernSoul]

*puts down beetroot juice*

Oh that kind of stamina...:undecided:

[davidrodway]

Still, probably better for them than "energy drinks" ie sugared water. Complex carbohydrates are best are they are digested a different rates and so sugars are released into the bloodstream at a slower steadier rate rather than a sudden dump of glucose.

[Pebble]

The impact of nitrates on ischaemia and exercise tolerance and blood pressure is not really news, the issue that has prevented widespread usage is tolerance. Further a poorly controlled small study like this does not deserve air time.

By contrast see:



Acta Physiol (Oxf). (javascript:AL_get(this,%20'jour',%20'Acta%20Physi ol%20(Oxf).');) 2007 Sep;191(1):59-66. Epub 2007 Jul 17.</SPAN> (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/utils/fref.fcgi?PrId=3046&itool=AbstractPlus-def&uid=17635415&db=pubmed&url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1716.2007.01713.x)Links (javascript:PopUpMenu2_Set(Menu17635415);)

Effects of dietary nitrate on oxygen cost during exercise.

Larsen FJ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Larsen%20FJ%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Weitzberg E (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Weitzberg%20E%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Lundberg JO (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Lundberg%20JO%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus), Ekblom B (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Ekblom%20B%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus).
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
AIM: Nitric oxide (NO), synthesized from l-arginine by NO synthases, plays a role in adaptation to physical exercise by modulating blood flow, muscular contraction and glucose uptake and in the control of cellular respiration. Recent studies show that NO can be formed in vivo also from the reduction of inorganic nitrate (NO(3) (-)) and nitrite (NO(2) (-)). The diet constitutes a major source of nitrate, and vegetables are particularly rich in this anion. The aim of this study was to investigate if dietary nitrate had any effect on metabolic and circulatory parameters during exercise. METHOD: In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study, we tested the effect of dietary nitrate on physiological and metabolic parameters during exercise. Nine healthy young well-trained men performed submaximal and maximal work tests on a cycle ergometer after two separate 3-day periods of dietary supplementation with sodium nitrate (0.1 mmol kg(-1) day-1) or an equal amount of sodium chloride (placebo). RESULTS: The oxygen cost at submaximal exercise was reduced after nitrate supplementation compared with placebo. On an average Vo(2) decreased from 2.98 +/- 0.57 during CON to 2.82 +/- 0.58 L min(-1) during NIT (P < 0.02) over the four lowest submaximal work rates. Gross efficiency increased from 19.7 +/- 1.6 during CON to 21.1 +/- 1.3% during NIT (P < 0.01) over the four lowest work rates. There was no difference in heart rate, lactate [Hla], ventilation (VE), VE/Vo(2) or respiratory exchange ratio between nitrate and placebo during any of the submaximal work rates. CONCLUSION: We conclude that dietary nitrate supplementation, in an amount achievable through a diet rich in vegetables, results in a lower oxygen demand during submaximal work. This highly surprising effect occurred without an accompanying increase in lactate concentration, indicating that the energy production had become more efficient. The mechanism of action needs to be clarified but a likely first step is the in vivo reduction of dietary nitrate into bioactive nitrogen oxides including nitrite and NO.

[Mulder]

Big problem is beetroot juice makes your pee turn red ...

[Trinoc]

Big problem is beetroot juice makes your pee turn red ...
So long as you know that's why it's red, no problem ...

(Does it make it red? I don't remember having that problem. I know eating asparagus makes your pee smell funny.)

[polomint38]

So long as you know that's why it's red, no problem ...

(Does it make it red? I don't remember having that problem. I know eating asparagus makes your pee smell funny.)



Very briefly, my brother who for the purposes of this anecdote, we will call David, I picked this name, as in relation to this story, I find it very memorable. ;)
He was rushed to hospital (this being pre-school, so parents don't laugh, you'd do the same) after eaten a whole jar of pickled beetroot, was eventually given the all clear. My brother gets very embarrassed about this, so if you meet him, please DO mention it.


P.S. If you do meet either of my brothers, my sister, or especially my mum, any stories told a purely apocryphal, honest guv. O0

[Croydon Bob]

(Does it make it red? I don't remember having that problem.

I've never eaten enough to get red but I've certainly had a shock with pink after beetroot eating.