It is the season of beets and a reason to nosh on them throughout. Stalking up on this vibrant veggie has many health benefits. However, one newfound benefit of consuming beetroot will impress you further. A recent study by Wake Forest University researchers found that drinking beet juice before exercise could have anti-aging benefits for the brain, particularly in older adults with high blood pressure. The study involved 26 participants aged 55 and older who consumed a beetroot shot before walking on a treadmill three times weekly.
The research team aimed to explore ways to enhance the known positive effects of exercise on brain aging. They divided participants into two groups, with half receiving Beet-It, a beetroot shot containing 560 milligrams of nitrate and the other half getting a placebo version with minimal nitrate content. What we showed in this brief training study of hypertensive older adults was that, as compared to exercise alone, adding a beet root juice supplement to exercise resulted in brain connectivity that closely resembles what you see in younger adults.The study participants were selected specifically because they did not exercise regularly, had high blood pressure, and took no more than two medications for their condition. They consumed the beet root juice supplement one hour before completing a 50-minute treadmill walk.
Nitric oxide is a really powerful molecule. It goes to the areas of the body that are hypoxic, or needing oxygen, and the brain is a heavy feeder of oxygen in your body.
Dietary nitratewhich is abundant in beets, is transformed into nitrite and subsequently nitric oxide (NO) when ingested. Numerous studies have demonstrated that nitric oxide can enhance exercise performance in individuals of all ages by increasing blood flow in the body, according to researchers. Nitric oxide is a very potent chemical. According to Wake Forest University’s W Jack Rejeski, “it travels to the parts of the body that are hypoxic, or in need of oxygen, and the brain is a heavy feeder of oxygen in your body.
The research revealed that combining beet juice with exercise delivered more oxygen to the brain, creating conditions that strengthen the brain’s motor activity region. After exercise, the group that received the actual beet juice showed significantly higher levels of nitrate and nitrite compared to the placebo group.
Beets have previously been recognized for their health benefits. The root vegetable is commonly used as a sweetening ingredient in health food store juices. Previous research has indicated that beets may help regulate blood pressure and enhance exercise performance and endurance.
The study specifically, which contains nitrate, a substance naturally found in beets that has been shown to increase blood flow in the body and improve exercise performance.
