6 replies to this topic

[Krell]

Has anyone tried drinking beetroot juice prior to road racing
or any other endurance activity?

Yesterday I ran an electronically timed 5k (3.3 mile) road race after drinking
16 oz of beetroot juice on each of the previous 6 days. This is a
race I run every year, so I have some prior data to compare with:


Race Date/ My age/ 5k time(m:s)/ time per mile(m:s)/ comment
6-2011/ 66/ 29:15 / 9:15/ 16.9oz beetroot juice for 6 days prior
6-2010/ 65/ 31:18/ 10:05/ no beetroot juice
6-2009/ 64/ 30:24/ 9:47/ no beetroot juice

Since nothing about my training (minimal) was much
different other than the beet juice, I think that my speed improvement of
3% to 6% was primarily due to the beetroot juice.


You can read the full text of one of the latest beetroot studies here
http://jap.physiology.org/content/107/4/1144.long
Unfortunately beetroot juice is expensive. I paid about $35 for six
16.9 oz bottles
http://www.vitacost....pf-021718502...


I would like to find an inexpensive way to add beets to my
smoothie. I can not find raw beets in my supermarket, but canned
beets are available for about $1. Unfortunately the cans that I
have seen have about 1000mg of sodium added. Perhaps
you could throw away the liquid with most of the sodium
and eat the beets?

[shaggy]

Interesting stuff, I wonder if beetroot offers the same benefit?

I would throw in some ashwagandha too, I have noticed an improvement in my running since introducing it into my regimen. My heart rate when running at a constant speed seems to be improving and I have changed nothing else (I have been at a plateau for a while now) and I'm the wrong side of 40 too! ;-)

http://www.ergo-log....ndhasprint.html

Edited by shaggy, 05 June 2011 - 04:34 PM.

[Soma]

Unfortunately beetroot juice is expensive. I paid about $35 for six
16.9 oz bottles

Have you ever consumed freshly pressed beet juice?

It tends to make one violently nauseous, interestingly enough. I tried it once (about 6 ounces) and had extreme nausea and projectile vomiting. I did some research and learned that it will have this effect. I was skeptical, so I psyched myself up and tested it again. Same result- projectile vomiting and the most intense nausea I have ever experienced in my life ( and I've had Thai food poisoning, so I know nausea).

If you juice your own, start SLOW. Start with one ounce and incrementally increase to a reasonable amount over time.

One way you could add beets to

I would like to find an inexpensive way to add beets to my
smoothie.

Maybe dehydrated beet juice?

Edited by Soma, 27 June 2011 - 08:04 PM.

[VoidPointer]

I have been drinking raw beet juice for a couple years now. It is nasty tasting, but mixing in some carrot and red cabbage improves it a bit. Expensive as well, but it works immediately to reduce blood pressure and lower heart rate.

Since I take dexmethylphenidate for ADHD, I use beet juice to offset the medications effect on the cardiovascular system.


Eating raw beets will not provide enough effect as drinking the juice. It takes at least three large beets to make 10-12 oz.

[Soma]

I have been drinking raw beet juice for a couple years now. It is nasty tasting, but mixing in some carrot and red cabbage improves it a bit. Expensive as well, but it works immediately to reduce blood pressure and lower heart rate.

Since I take dexmethylphenidate for ADHD, I use beet juice to offset the medications effect on the cardiovascular system.


Eating raw beets will not provide enough effect as drinking the juice. It takes at least three large beets to make 10-12 oz.

DId you ever experience nausea when first drinking the raw beet juice? Did you start low and slow?

[VoidPointer]

I have been drinking raw beet juice for a couple years now. It is nasty tasting, but mixing in some carrot and red cabbage improves it a bit. Expensive as well, but it works immediately to reduce blood pressure and lower heart rate.

Since I take dexmethylphenidate for ADHD, I use beet juice to offset the medications effect on the cardiovascular system.


Eating raw beets will not provide enough effect as drinking the juice. It takes at least three large beets to make 10-12 oz.

DId you ever experience nausea when first drinking the raw beet juice? Did you start low and slow?

Yes, if I drank it all right away nausea would ensue.

They way around that is to sip it like tea or coffee, and do not drink on an empty stomach. It usually takes me 2 hours to go through a 10 oz glass.

It is a lot of trouble and expensive, but it does work and the juice is good both for the brain and body.

[Krell]

I have been drinking raw beet juice for a couple years now. It is nasty tasting, but mixing in some carrot and red cabbage improves it a bit. Expensive as well, but it works immediately to reduce blood pressure and lower heart rate.

Since I take dexmethylphenidate for ADHD, I use beet juice to offset the medications effect on the cardiovascular system.


Eating raw beets will not provide enough effect as drinking the juice. It takes at least three large beets to make 10-12 oz.

DId you ever experience nausea when first drinking the raw beet juice? Did you start low and slow?

Yes, if I drank it all right away nausea would ensue.

They way around that is to sip it like tea or coffee, and do not drink on an empty stomach. It usually takes me 2 hours to go through a 10 oz glass.

It is a lot of trouble and expensive, but it does work and the juice is good both for the brain and body.

I never had any trouble drinking 16 oz per day of the expensive bottled beetroot juice. Although I thought I hated beets, I liked the taste of this juice.
The bottle says it is fermented.

I generally sipped it throughout the day because for endurance you need the nitrate in the juice converted to nitrite, and this requires lots of
saliva, both while you are drinking it, and after it is in your stomach. All of this is discussed in the technical paper.

I found some cans of unsalted sliced beets at the supermarket for $1/can and they are not as appetizing to my taste. And I found 32 oz of beet
juice + purple carrot juice at Trader Joes for under $3 that tastes pretty good. I think I will order some more of the expensive beetroot juice and
save it for special occasions where endurance is required like road races or mountain climbs.

Edited by Krell, 27 June 2011 - 09:49 PM.