{"id":160000,"date":"2017-07-13T07:03:39","date_gmt":"2017-07-13T07:03:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=160000"},"modified":"2017-07-17T08:49:13","modified_gmt":"2017-07-17T08:49:13","slug":"will-beetroot-juice-enhance-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2017\/07\/13\/will-beetroot-juice-enhance-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Beetroot Juice Enhance Your Performance?"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are no magic pills or shortcuts when it comes to cycling performance. But every now and then a new discovery is made that appears too tempting to be ignored. Beetroot juice is the perfect example. It became a popular food even amongst the pros after the initial research showed promising results. But does it really have any value beyond being a healthy vegetable? And do the supposed performance benefits apply also to amateurs?<\/strong>
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How does it work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cNitric oxide helps with the dilation of small blood vessels, which improves oxygen transport around the body to fuel the muscles. It also helps to lower blood pressure, which is good for general wellbeing even if you\u2019re not an elite cyclist,\u201d says Nigel Mitchell, head of nutrition at Cannondale-Drapac pro-cycling. Beetroot is one of the best sources of nitrates, compounds that are broken down by saliva to form nitric oxide in the body. That\u2019s why scientists started looking into potential uses for beetroot as a natural performance enhancer.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BRIhHJDBo9f\/<\/p>\n

Early studies show promise on short distances<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The first studies on nitrate supplementation measured the body\u2019s use of oxygen and showed that beetroot juice lowered the amount of oxygen required to do the same set amount of exercise. The thing is, they were done on untrained athletes doing controlled exercises that had very little to do with any actual sport. But even this was enough to make beetroot exciting.<\/p>\n

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Doesn't matter how often it happens, taking a pee the day after drinking beetroot juice will always freak you out!! #pissingrainbows<\/a><\/p>\n

— Mark Cavendish (@MarkCavendish) January 13, 2012<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n