Let's talk beets. You know they're good for you, but there's a whole lot more to them than nutrition. Whether roasted, baked, boiled, or in powder form, beets have plenty of surprising benefits.
The Secret of Beets
When you eat a beet, you aren't just getting tons of nutrients and fiber (though you're definitely getting plenty of both!). You're also getting a healthy dose of nitrates. Your body turns this chemical into nitric oxide, which has an interesting effect on your circulatory system. Known as a vasodilator, nitric oxide helps blood vessels relax. This brings more blood and oxygen to your organs and muscles, which helps your body out in some surprising ways.
Heart Health
One of the most surprising benefits of beets is their effect on heart health. High blood pressure is associated with a number of very dangerous concerns, including heart attack and stroke. Keeping your blood pressure in check is an effective way to lower your risk for both conditions. Enter beets, with their abundance of nitrates and, therefore, nitric oxide. As a vasodilator, nitric oxide actually lowers your blood pressure… for a while. Though the effect is very real, it is also short-lived. Research shows that beets impact your blood pressure for about six hours after eating. That's where beet root powder becomes the real MVP. Add it to your meals or snacks for continued benefits.
Athletic Performance
Blood pressure isn't the only thing that nitrates improve. Recent research suggests that nitrates improve your body's ability to deliver oxygen where it's needed. Studies like this one found that drinking beet juice before exercising led to longer workout times before exhaustion.
Brain Health
Some decline in cognitive function is to be expected as people age. However, too much of a decline can lead to conditions like dementia. Beet root powder may have a role to play in preventing such issues. One of the theories behind cognitive decline is insufficient blood flow (and therefore oxygen supply) to the brain. Yet again, it's nitrates to the rescue! By relaxing blood vessels and allowing greater blood flow, the humble beet can help improve decision making and working memory. Check out this study for more information.
Digestive Health and Weight Loss
You didn't think you'd make it through one of our blogs without discussing gut health, did you? Turns out beets are just the ticket if you're worrying about your digestion. Like we said in the introduction, beet is chock full of fiber. That fiber is exactly what your digestive system needs to operate at its best. Not only does it add bulk to your waste, it also feeds the friendly bacteria residing in your gut. Fiber also helps you feel fuller longer, which is a huge benefit to anyone pursuing weight loss. Eat beets on their own or enjoy beet root powder over your favorite foods to easily get all the benefits this unassuming root has to offer.