"The researchers believe their findings could help people with cardiovascular, respiratory or metabolic diseases - and endurance athletes.
*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. *
*This would translate into an approximate 2% reduction in the time taken to cover a set distance. * The group that had consumed the beetroot juice also had lower resting blood pressure."
More than just a fad. I’ve been recommending it for a while to patients who want an “alternative” method of lowering BP. Reports back have been favorable. I first read about it here:
I am surprised this is just being pushed now. I would bet that 80-90% of endurance athletes are iron deficient and considering what iron does for the body, it wouldn’t surprise me that the research showed it gave endurance athletes a boost:
Iron, one of the most abundant metals on Earth, is essential to most life forms and to normal human physiology. Iron is an integral part of many proteins and enzymes that maintain good health. In humans, iron is an essential component of proteins involved in oxygen transport . It is also essential for the regulation of cell growth and differentiation . A deficiency of iron limits oxygen delivery to cells, resulting in fatigue, poor work performance, and decreased immunity
I am far from knowledgeable in anything, but don’t multivitamins have 100% of daily iron in them? Is there something wrong with that form of iron that prevents daily vitamins from fulfilling iron requirements?
