A study has concluded that drinking beetroot juice on a regular basis can boost your stamina. This means that the wonder drink can facilitate you in increasing your exercise routine to around 16% more.
The University of Exeter conducted the study and has shown that the nitrate contained in beetroot juice can lead to a reduction in oxygen uptake, making exercise less tiring. The research further exhibited that drinking beetroot juice can oxygen uptake to an extent, which cannot be attained by any other known means, including training.
To reach the conclusion, research team conducted their research with eight men aged between 19 and 38. They were provided 500ml per day of organic beetroot juice, for six consecutive days before completing a series of tests that involved cycling on an exercise bike. On the other hand, they were given a placebo of blackcurrant cordial for six consecutive days before accomplishing the same cycling tests. After drinking beetroot juice, the group was able to cycle for an average of 11.25 minutes, which is 92 seconds longer than when they were given the placebo. This meant an approximate 2 percent reduction in the time taken to cover a set distance. The group that had taken the beetroot juice, also had lower resting blood pressure.
The researchers are not yet completely certain about the exact mechanism, which causes the nitrate in the beetroot juice to boost stamina. Nevertheless, they speculate, it could be a result of the nitrate turning into nitric oxide in the body, reducing the oxygen cost of exercise.
This study has been published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
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