Beetroot Juice May Enhance Physical Activity and Endurance
Topic: Fruits and Vegetables
Author: University of Exeter
Published: 2010/12/17 - Updated: 2024/07/01
Publication Type: Research, Study, Analysis - Peer-Reviewed: Yes
Contents: Summary - Introduction - Main Item - Related Topics
Synopsis: New research into health benefits of beetroot juice suggests it may help seniors or people with heart or lung-conditions enjoy more active lives. Beetroot juice has been one of the biggest stories in sports science over the past year after researchers at the University of Exeter found it enables people to exercise for up to 16% longer. What we've seen in this study is that beetroot juice can actually reduce the amount of oxygen you need to perform even low-intensity exercise.
Introduction
New research into the health benefits of beetroot juice suggests it's not only athletes who can benefit from its performance enhancing properties - its physiological effects could help the elderly or people with heart or lung-conditions enjoy more active lives.
Main Item
Beetroot juice has been one of the biggest stories in sports science over the past year after researchers at the University of Exeter found it enables people to exercise for up to 16% longer. The startling results have led to a host of athletes - from Premiership footballers to professional cyclists - looking into its potential uses.
Bundle of whole fresh organic beet plants (Beetroot).
A new piece of research by the university in conjunction with the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry has revealed the physiological effects of drinking beetroot juice could help a much wider range of people.
In the latest study, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, the researchers looked at low intensity exercise and found that test subjects used less oxygen while walking - effectively reducing the effort it took to walk by 12%.
Katie Lansley, a PhD student from the university's Sport and Health Sciences department and lead author of the study, said: "As you get older, or if you have conditions which affect your cardiovascular system, the amount of oxygen you can take in to use during exercise drops considerably. This means that, for some people, even simple tasks like walking may not be manageable.
"What we've seen in this study is that beetroot juice can actually reduce the amount of oxygen you need to perform even low-intensity exercise. In principle, this effect could help people do things they wouldn't otherwise be able to do."
When consumed, beetroot juice has two marked physiological effects. Firstly, it widens blood vessels, reducing blood pressure and allowing more blood flow. Secondly, it affects muscle tissue, reducing the amount of oxygen needed by muscles during activity. The combined effects have a significant impact on performing physical tasks, whether it involves low-intensity or high-intensity effort.
So far the research on the impacts of beetroot juice has only been carried out on younger people who are in good health, but the researchers believe there is no reason why the effects of beetroot juice wouldn't help others.
"While we haven't yet measured the effects on the elderly or those with heart or lung conditions, there is the potential for a positive impact in these populations which we intend to go on and investigate further," Katie Lansley added.
Beetroot juice contains high levels of nitrate. The latest study has proved that this is the key ingredient which causes the increase in performance, rather than any other component of the beetroot juice.
Professor Andy Jones, the senior scientist on the study and a pioneer of research into beetroot juice, said:
"In this study, we were able to use - for the first time - both normal beetroot juice and beetroot juice with the nitrate filtered out. Test subjects didn't know which one they were getting. The drinks both looked and tasted exactly the same. Each time the normal, nitrate-rich juice was used, we saw a marked improvement in performance which wasn't there with the filtered juice - so we know the nitrate is the active ingredient."
The research paper Dietary nitrate supplementation reduces the cost of walking and running: a placebo controlled study is available to view online as an article in press in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
Related Information
- Health Benefits of Beet Juice for Muscles: Report details the ability of beet juice to enhance blood flow to exercising muscle groups.
- Pomegranate Juice Components May Stop Cancer from Spreading: Components in pomegranate juice that inhibit movement of cancer cells and weaken attraction to chemical signal that promotes metastasis of prostate cancer.
- Daily Glass of Beetroot Juice May Lower Blood Pressure: Study reveals drinking a cup of beetroot juice per day may help reduce blood pressure.
- Lose Weight and Lower Blood Pressure - Drink Vegetable Juice: Drinking V8 100% Vegetable Juice aided in dietary support for weight loss and lower blood pressure.
- Consuming V8 Vegetable Juice Supports Adherence to Dietary Guidelines: Drinking V8 100% vegetable juice may be a simple way for people to increase their vegetable intake and may help them manage their weight.
- Drinking Beetroot Juice Boosts Stamina: Study reveals drinking beetroot juice reduces oxygen uptake to an extent that cannot be achieved by other means including training.
Attribution/Source(s):
This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its significant relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by University of Exeter, and published on 2010/12/17 (Edit Update: 2024/07/01), the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, University of Exeter can be contacted at exeter.ac.uk. NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.
Explore Related Topics
1 - Lower Stress by Eating More Fruit and Vegetables - New research from Edith Cowan University suggests eating a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is associated with lower stress level.
2 - Live Well By Eating Green Foods - Naturopaths have recommended the use of green foods to enhance the treatment of diseases such asthma candida lupus and HIV.
3 - Benefits of Cucumber for Healthy Skin and Eyes - Cucumber can help in treating many skin problems, it has become part of daily beauty products and routine for face packs, facials, juicing and also has benefits for your skin and eyes.
4 - How Do I Possibly Eat All Those Fruits and Vegetables? - Hints and tips on how to add fruit and vegetables to your food diet to meet your average daily dietary requirements and possibly stave off disease and cancers.
5 - Color Chart of Healthy Fruits and Vegetables - List of different color fruits and vegetables that contain unique health components essential to human health and wellness.
Page Information, Citing and Disclaimer
Disabled World is a comprehensive online resource that provides information and news related to disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility issues. Founded in 2004 our website covers a wide range of topics, including disability rights, healthcare, education, employment, and independent living, with the goal of supporting the disability community and their families.
Cite This Page (APA): University of Exeter. (2010, December 17 - Last revised: 2024, July 1). Beetroot Juice May Enhance Physical Activity and Endurance. Disabled World. Retrieved October 7, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/fitness/nutrition/fruits-veggies/beetroot-juice-health.php
Permalink: <a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/fitness/nutrition/fruits-veggies/beetroot-juice-health.php">Beetroot Juice May Enhance Physical Activity and Endurance</a>: New research into health benefits of beetroot juice suggests it may help seniors or people with heart or lung-conditions enjoy more active lives.
Disabled World provides general information only. Materials presented are never meant to substitute for qualified medical care. Any 3rd party offering or advertising does not constitute an endorsement.