Beetroot juice can boost athletic performance because it is rich in nitrate, which could give athletes a competitive advantage, experts have found.
Australian researchers analyzed the effects of beetroot supplements on six male and five female kayakers. Each was given a 70 milligram shot of beetroot juice. The athletes' paddling economy and time-trial performance were also analyzed.
"In laboratory-based four minute ergometer tests, the beetroot supplement had a small effect on the distance covered but was effective in improving the task economy of the male kayakers," said University of Western Australia's Peter Peeling.
When the amount of beetroot juice was increased to 140 ml among the female athletes, the team recorded a significant 1.7 percent improvement in their performance during the 500-meter, time-trial kayaking test. In sports events like kayaking, a short margin of difference is crucial when it comes to winning gold or silver.
The nitrate-rich beetroot juice was said to have increased the process efficiency of the mitochondria, the cell's energy source.
"This means ATP, the molecule known as a cell's energy currency, can be spared during muscular activity, resulting in a decreased oxygen cost for a given task," explained Peeling.
By decreasing a task's oxygen costs, a person's endurance is improved. There could also be greater output for the same oxygen cost.
The research was published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism.
Power-Packed Beetroot
In a separate and earlier research, scientists from the University of Exeter found that the beetroot sports drink Beet It Sport could improve the brain activity and sprint performance of athletes. The nitrate-rich sports drink enabled a 3.5 percent surge in the male athlete's sprint performance.
When nitrate mixes with saliva, the nitric oxygen in the bloodstream is activated. Nitric oxygen increases oxygen in the muscles, improving endurance and blood flow.
The research team also documented a 3 percent surge in the athletes' decision-making skills.
Research leader Chris Thompson explained that, even though the percentage seems small, it gives athletes significant advantage in the field. An improved executive and sprint performance could have a huge effect on the overall team performance.
Photo: Gordon Joly | Flickr
