Beetroot juice, good or not?

[Suffolk Cycling]

Apologies if this has been discussed before - I did do a forum search and only came up with posts about people being beetroot-faced from riding too hard!

Do any of you drink beetroot juice? Do you swear by the benefits, or is it just a clever marketing ploy?

I'm thinking of writing a blog post exploring it, so views/thoughts very welcome (and credited in the piece, of course).

I've started drinking it on the recommendation of a fast-riding friend. Tastes pretty grim

 

[Rob3rt]

Plenty of scientific articles on it.

 

[winjim]

What are the claims for it? I think it's in some of the fancy juices my wife buys and we have some raw beetroot and ginger muesli in at the moment but I don't drink it specifically to improve my cycling.

I very much doubt that it is the single thing which makes your friend ride fast.

 

[Suffolk Cycling]

What are the claims for it? I think it's in some of the fancy juices my wife buys and we have some raw beetroot and ginger muesli in at the moment but I don't drink it specifically to improve my cycling.

I very much doubt that it is the single thing which makes your friend ride fast.

Beetroot is high in nitrate and is meant to increase the oxygen in the blood, and get the muscles working longer... so they say!

 

[stuee147]

i dont know about beetroot juice but my grandad always used to drink the water the cabbages were boiled in and he lived well into his 90s so there might be something in it i tried it once but never again i think it must be an acquired taste lol

 

[numbnuts]

Beetroot the food of the

 

[Cycleops]

Apparently can lower blood pressure within one day! Also good for anaemia.

 

[summerdays]

I voted yes because it's a vegetable and it's delicious!

Just back from the allotment where I picked some including the one below but they will be destined to become roast beetroot or beetroot gratin!

 

[Suffolk Cycling]

Impressive!

 

[TheJDog]

I love beetroot. I have juice, pickled and roast in my fridge. I hate parsnip. I hope parsnip isn't good for you.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I do. Because I love it. My favourite juice recipe is: Load of carrots, a few oranges (peeled), one or two beetroot, half a lemon, lump of ginger. Bung in juicer. Drink.

Mmmmm. But as to its athletic performance enhancing powers, I'm not a very good advert I'm afraid.

 

[guitarpete247]

I have some beetroot growing. Hope that slugs don't go for it as we are overrun with the bleeders.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

It formed a large part of a pre-op week long diet advice for people awaiting heart surgery and needing to drop the last few lbs before going in. Maybe juice would have helped as there is only so much raw beetroot you can eat in a week without wanting to scream.

 

[RebornBumbler]

I seem to recall that the beneficial effects are only really pronounced if you're quite unfit.
In fit/professional cyclists there was no measurable positive effect.

 

[dellzeqq]

delicious!