Beetroot, popularly known as beets, ranks as one of the most versatile and vibrant vegetables. Beets are known for their aroma, flavor, and exceptional health benefits. Not to be confused with sugar beets, which has a high concentration of sucrose or sugar, beetroot is a root vegetable loaded with all sorts of vitamins, minerals, and micro-nutrients.
The ancient Greeks held beetroot in high regard and included it in offerings to the sun god Apollo, deeming it worth its own weight in silver. The Romans cultivated beetroot for medicinal purposes and Hippocrates used beet greens for binding wounds. In fact, the Romans actually considered beetroot an aphrodisiac, which explains why images of beets were found on the walls of an “adult establishment” in Pompeii. This belief is actually well-founded, as beets contain boron, which stimulates hormones.
Beetroot extract is one of the major active ingredients in Alkalife® Brain Performance Plus™, an advanced brain-enhancing supplement that can help revitalize your mind and body.* As a natural cognitive enhancer, Alkalife® Brain Performance Plus™ can become a powerful ally in helping you achieve improved mental performance, support your overall wellness, and advance personal and professional goals.*
Beetroot powder is made by drying out or dehydrating thin pieces of raw beets, then grinding them into a powder. The powder is more concentrated than the fresh vegetable or roasted beets, but it has a relatively neutral taste. One teaspoon of beetroot powder is the equivalent of one fresh beetroot and still has all the health benefits of beets.
One study looked at the total organic acids, sugars, phenol compounds, and antioxidant potential in beetroot powder, juice, chips, and cooked beets. Researchers found higher amounts of antioxidant potential and organic acids in the powder and chips compared with the other forms.
Beetroots are highly nutritious and are a rich source of Vitamin C, potassium, manganese, magnesium, and folic acid. The leafy tops are an excellent source of nutrients as well, including protein, zinc, iron, and calcium.
For thousands of years, beetroots have been used for medicinal purposes and as part of a healthy diet. The ancient physicians often used them in remedies for digestive complaints and fevers. They had the right idea – beetroots contain a betacyanin calledbetanin, which is a powerful compound thought to help fight some kinds of cancer.* It is betanin that gives beetroot its deep purple color.
Betanin stimulates the detoxification processes of the liver and cleanses the digestive system. Beetroots also contain glutamine, an amino acid that helps with digestion and boosts the immune system.
Your heart loves beetroot too. A study conducted at Queen Mary University of London tested the effects of beetroot juice on a group of test patients, and the results clearly showed it helped to lower blood pressure. This is attributed to the presence of nitrates in the beetroot, which relax blood vessels and help in lowering blood pressure, warding off stroke, and preventing heart disease. Blood flow to the brain is also improved, which may fight off dementia.
The higher amount of nitrates may also improve sporting performance by increasing efficiency in the oxygen an athlete needs to use. Many Olympic athletes now regularly drink a glass of beet juice every day when competing and training in an effort to achieve greater stamina and speed.
Studies support their theory: drinking the juice improved performance by 11 seconds in a 4 km bicycle time trial carried out at Exeter University a few years ago.
Unless you are willing to eat alotof beets every day, consuming beetroot powder is your best bet at getting all the nutrients from this amazing vegetable. It contains higher levels of nitrates, which result in the following nutritional benefits:
The biggest benefit of beetroot powder in terms of heart health is sustained blood pressure lowering. The nitrates present in beets enlarge the blood vessels, allowing more blood flow and thus putting less stress on the heart to pump nutrients and oxygen throughout the body.
To possibly lower your blood pressure, beetroot must be consumed daily.* Eating beets once or twice in a blue moon will not permanently lower high blood pressure. Incorporating beetroot powder into a healthy diet is the easiest way to lower high blood pressure.*
Nitrates essentially keep your heart from working too hard and allow your muscles to work harder. One study published in 2017 in the Nutrients Journal found that taking beet supplements may improve endurance during exercise.
Some believe the improved performance benefit may come from nitric oxide, which increases blood flow and leads to more oxygen getting delivered to the muscles. Oxygen is a critical element in powering forms of cardiovascular and aerobic exercises (like bike rides and long runs), so more oxygen translates to better stamina.
Beetroot's nitrates not only help enhance cardio exercise, but they also help with high-intensity training like heavy lifting and sprints.* According to the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, beetroot supplements reduce fatigue during high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
Though scientists have yet to discover exactly how beets produce this effect, some believe it may relate to the vegetable’s ability to break down creatine phosphate during training. Creatine phosphate is responsible for giving you the energy for these types of exercises.
Nitric oxide created by nitrates in beets also helps speed up muscle recovery.* Enhanced blood flow leads to increased oxygen transport when you’re working out, but it also means more oxygen and other nutrients your muscles need to recover post-workout.
Your hard-working muscles and tissues essentially get everything they need to heal after physical exertion. One clinical trial found that beetroot supplementation after intense workouts helped reduce soreness in participants.
Beetroot contains polyphenol, an antioxidant that can fight inflammation in the body. Antioxidants have the ability to destroy free radicals and protect against cell damage that can cause a plethora of chronic diseases.
The jewel red color of beets comes frombetalains, which have great antioxidant effects and can stave off inflammation. The combination of nitrates and betalains makes beetroot powder an incredible choice for people with inflammatory conditions like fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.*
You don’t have to be a gym enthusiast or bodybuilder to benefit from beetroot powder. It may also provide notable cognitive health benefits, especially in older adults.* Nitrates are believed to help improve the delivery of blood to areas of the brain that are responsible for focus, memory, and emotion regulation. By dilating blood vessels and improving blood circulation, nitric oxide helps boost oxygen delivery to the brain.
Beets bring many positive benefits to your body, including better athletic performance, increased cognitive functioning, and reduced blood pressure.* From fitness lovers looking to increase endurance to students and professionals seeking to outperform in their fields to older adults looking to improve or maintain their cognitive health, Alkalife® Brain Performance Plus™ can benefit almost everyone.*
The one-of-a-kind Brain Performance Plus™ formula contains 1,000 mg of beetroot powder in each serving, plus many other powerful vitamins and botanical extracts. Thanks to brain-boosting ingredients and stimulant-free energy, Alkalife® Brain Performance Plus™ can help you focus, fight fatigue, and feel great.*
If you are looking to improve your cellular function and health through a daily dose of beets and other natural extracts, look no further. Give Brain Performance Plus® a try for 90 days and see the difference yourself. Have any questions? Call us at 305-235-5120 or leave a message here to reach to our expert team.