Beet Root: A Healthy Pre Workout Supplement.

Beet root, as its name might imply, is the root portion of the commonly known beet plant. Beet plants produce the often consumed vegetable known simply as beets. This vegetable can be found at stores prepared in a variety of ways.

Pre-workout supplements are the go-to method to maximize effort during a workout. A quick google search of pre-workout supplements will produce a vast array of products to choose from. The majority of these supplements are comprised of ingredients which may not be natural, banned from sports and dangerous. Therefore, choosing the healthiest pre-workout supplement can be a challenging task.

Beets and other beetroot byproducts possess numerous health benefits and support natural energy. Though these attributes are important to everyone’s health, they are of particular significance to athletes who often demand a lot from their bodies.*

Stamina Building and Blood Pressure Regulation- Beets contain high quantities of nitrates, which the body synthesizes into nitric oxide (also referred to as supplemental oxygen) which promotes blood vessel relaxation and dilation.*

Boost Energy Levels - Beets are rife with the important nutritional compounds known as carbohydrates. Carbohydrates aid the body in metabolizing energy, which is critical to athletes such as bodybuilders who expend significant quantities of energy.*

• Beet Root is an Antioxidant Powerhouse- Beets contain antioxidants such as resveratrol, betalain, and quercetin.

• Beets Contain Only Natural Ingredients- Beets and beet root byproducts do not contain artificial products such as artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners or banned substances.

The proper amount of beets or beet root supplements an athlete should consume prior to commencing a workout depends upon several different factors, including his or her weight, their overall health, the type of exercise(s) to be executed, their level of strenuousness and the athlete's general workout goals.

Regardless of the established amount, the method of consumption also plays a critical role in the body's ability to properly absorb the nutrients and help a maximize your workout. If beets are to be consumed as part of a full meal in advance of exercise, an athlete should wait at least several hours before working out for the purpose of allowing his or her body to go through the proper digestion process. However, if the athlete plans on consuming supplements like beet root powder such action can be taken as little as a 15-30 minutes prior to commencing a workout.

Here are 2 of our favorite options for consuming beetroot prior to exercise:

CAN’T BEET ME SMOOTHIE from Shalane Flanagan, winner of the 2017 NYC marathon and author of the best selling book Run Fast, Eat Slow.

• ½ cooked beet, peeled and quartered.
• ½ cup frozen blueberries.
• ½ small frozen banana.
• 4oz. unsweetened almond milk.
• 4oz. coconut water.
• ½ inch fresh knob of ginger.
• ½ tablespoon of almond butter.

Place all ingredients in a blender and mix on high speed until smooth. This smoothie can be consumed 30-90 minutes before exercise.

Nutrology's naturally sourced pre-workout drinks contain Beetroot powder, Vitamin C, and Yerba Mate to boost endurance and focus during exercise. Since this product is already pre-mixed into a fine powder, you can expect to feel the effects quickly... which is great if you're in a hurry. In addition, the Vitamin C really helps mask the taste of the beets, making it much easier to consume than beet juice alone.

Mix 1-2 scoops in 8-16 fl. oz. water and consume 15-30 minutes before exercise.