When we were kids, our parents always tried to make us eat those horrible multi-colored things called “vegetables.” From lettuce to broccoli and beets to cucumber, the dinner table can sometimes feel like a fight to the death.
But let’s be honest, our parents were right.
The nutritional and health value of vegetables cannot be overstated.
Critical vitamins, minerals, proteins, and countless other essential components for a well-functioning body are all found in veggies.
Today, we want to discuss an often-underrated star of the vegetable kingdom: beet root.
Not only has beet root been found to increase athletic stamina, but it can also lower blood pressure and increase blood flow – giving you a sustained energy boost.
Beet root (also called beta vulgaris in Latin, or more colloquially called “beet”) is a colorful root vegetable in the same family as spinach, chard, and quinoa. This healthy and edible root is full of critical nutrients [1], including:
Beet root is a low-calorie vegetable, comprised of 87% water, 8% carbohydrates, and 2 to 3% fiber – making it a healthy and nutritious addition to any meal. A single serving of 100 grams of raw beets contains:
The human body could be likened to a machine, but instead of being powered by gas or electricity, it’s powered by food and nutrition.
If you find yourself feeling fatigued and exhausted without your daily dose of caffeine, it’s a sure sign that your body is lacking in vital nutrients.
You know how battery-operated tools, shavers, and flashlights act sluggish when the battery is low, or when the electrical contacts are corroded? Well, the same rule applies to the body.
Unfortunately, even if you eat nutritious foods, a lack of blood flow can prevent the vital nutrients from reaching your organs and cells.
Nitric oxide (NO) is one of your body’s top solutions to solving this problem and maintaining healthy blood flow. This beneficial molecule, known as a vasodilator, relaxes the inner muscles of your blood vessels and causes them to widen – increasing blood flow and lowering blood pressure. [2]
How does your body get this incredible substance? It synthesizes it. And dietary nitrates are the key nutritional component your body needs to do so. [3]
The good news? Beet root is one of the top sources of natural dietary nitrates. [4]
And with optimized blood flow comes…. drumroll…. sustained and healthy energy without the need for caffeine!
You can experience multiple benefits by regularly adding beet root to your diet. Whether you eat it raw, cooked, pickled, or in the form of organic supplements like Body Health’s Perfect Reds, there is no question that your body will thank you repeatedly in the form of increased energy, improved athletic performance, and better health.
Some of the astonishing benefits of routine beet root consumption include:
High blood pressure (hypertension) places high pressure on your arterial walls, damaging them creating dangerous aneurysms. High blood pressure increases your risk of heart attacks, heart failure, and stroke [5], which is why millions of Americans are on medication to reduce their blood pressure and keep it at manageable levels.
The good news: Studies have shown that consumption of beet root can increase the presence of nitric oxide in your blood and lower your blood pressure naturally within a matter of hours. [6]
The consumption of nitrates (found in beets) has been shown to increase energy output in your cells, for enhanced stamina and improved performance for athletes. [7] Further, the increased blood flow can:
One study even found that cyclists experienced 15 to 25% increase in their stamina after supplementing their diet with inorganic dietary nitrates![14] Another study showed a 1.7% performance increase in sport-based kayaking after the athletes took an inorganic dietary nitrate supplement two hours before starting. [15]
While research is still ongoing regarding the effects of a high-nitrate diet on brain function, research so far suggests that the improved blood flow to the brain may be able to help:
Whether or not you fought eating beets at the dinner table as a child, there’s no arguing that it was (and is) a good idea.
If you’re a lucky parent blessed with children who love their vegetables, then we recommend making beets a regular part of your meals. If not, BodyHealth’s Perfect Reds is a delicious, organic and healthy supplement that’s perfect for adults and children.
Stay tuned for next week’s article on the power of red reishi mushrooms!
The importance of having a well-functioning and healthy immune system has become increasingly obvious in recent times.
Sadly, everyone seems to have a different answer as to how you should go about strengthening your immune system. When you go to your local health and wellness shop, you might see twenty or thirty products that tout their “immune boosting” powers. An Amazon search reveals thousands of results.
Well, we’re here to tell you about an effective and ancient remedy that has been in use for over two thousand years: the red reishi mushroom.
We’ve all heard about all the negative effects of stress and the modern lifestyle.
We’re all rushing around, overworked, in a constant state of fight-or-flight and it has disastrous effects on our health.
But what if “stress” wasn’t the real problem?
What if our bodies knew exactly how to cope with the intensity of modern life… if we just gave the body what it needed to thrive?
And the key may be one little mineral.
I hope this finds you healthy and able to still get outside (or inside) for a daily run during this trying time of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many of us are grieving several losses including race cancellations. Though it's a bummer, I want you to know that your hard-earned training is far from wasted.
Those miles are in your legs and all kinds of wonderful benefits have occurred including the addition of mitochondria, adding new capillary beds for increased blood flow, and strengthening the heart muscle for future training.
As athletes, it's important for us to be proactive in maintaining a strong immune system. We're not only doing this for our own prevention but also our loved ones that we spend time with.
Read on for 5 tips to consider as you seek to stay healthy.
