Beets are one of the most researched vegetables for heart and blood vessel health. The benefits come mostly from their high natural nitrate content.
When you eat beets, your body converts the natural nitrates into nitric oxide, which helps to relax blood vessels and helps arteries to widen, improving blood flow.
Research has also shown that eating beets or drinking beet juice can help with lowering blood pressure. It lowers blood pressure because it widens the arteries which helps with blood flow. When arteries are wider it reduces the resistance needed to push blood through the body, lowering blood pressure.
Think of it like a garden hose. If you have a wide garden hose it's able to get a lot of water through even with low water pressure. If you have a narrow hose it needs a lot of pressure to get the same amount of water through as the wider garden hose.
We have a lot of great beet supplements at the store in juices, powders, capsules, or gummies. If you like the taste of beets we also have some delicious pickled beets by the brand Bubbies.
Beets are also great for exercise performance since they help with increasing blood flow. Beets and the nitric oxide they produce can help oxygen to get to the muscles more when exercising which can help with reducing fatigue. Research has to also shown that beets can help with increasing endurance when exercising as well as increasing muscle power. For exercise benefits it's usually recommended to take a beet supplement or drink beet juice 2 to 3 hours before exercising to see the greatest benefit.
Stop in for more information or if you have any questions! We’re at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights and have a kind and knowledgeable staff to help with your individual needs.