Following on from the news that grapefruit could hold the key to a new slimming pill, scientists are now saying that beetroot juice could boost people’s ability to exercise.
A UK study has suggested that drinking the juice could help people work out for 16% longer. The team, from the University of Exeter, discovered that a nitrate found in the red vegetable helps reduce oxygen uptake, making exercise less exhausting.
Focusing on 8 men aged between 19-38, the volunteers were given 500ml of the juice for 6 consecutive days, before being asked to perform a series of tests while cycling or using an exercise bike.
They were then given a placebo of blackcurrent juice for 6 consecutive days before taking part in the same cycling tests.
The tests performed after the men had been given beetroot showed that they were able to work out for an average of 11.25 minutes longer. The researchers say that while they are not sure why this effect was observed, they believe it is due to the nitrate turning into nitric oxide in the body, diminuishing the amount of oxygen used up during exercise.
The discovery could be used to help people with cardiovascular, respiratory or metabolic diseases, as well as endurance athletes. It could also be of particular use in helping obese people exercise more to boost weight loss.
The overweight often find it difficult to exercise as their weight means they get quickly exhausted. Ways to boost the length of time someone can exercise could have a big impact on their energy levels, which would in turn allow them to burn more calories.