Beetroot juice improving performance................YUKI!!!

jgsi
jgsi Posts: 5,062
edited October 2012 in Training, fitness and health
http://tinyurl.com/379rhz7
Anyone else subjecting themselves to this disgusting daily routine?
After 2 days the stuff makes me gag.. it's horrid... horrid stuff.... can someone tell me it's a wind up so that I can throw the stuff in the bin...... please
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Comments

  • shockedsoshocked
    shockedsoshocked Posts: 4,021
    Not a wind up.

    Beetroot juice:

    Pros: proven increase in aerobic endurance performance, easy to consume (1 litre / day for ~6-10 days before event)

    Cons: expensive, high in calories (~800-900 cal per litre), turns urine purple

    High in Nitrate which is believed to increase oxidative functioning

    Bailey et al. 2009, JAP
    "A cyclist has nothing to lose but his chain"

    PTP Runner Up 2015
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    I buy raw beetroot from my local market in Lewisham, you can get loads for a quid. I then juice it myself with other fruit and veg - apples, pears, spinach, broccoli etc etc, whatever I've got. If you don't like the flavour juice a chunk of ginger with it, that hides the intense veggie flavour to a certain extent. Otherwise just drink it down quickly and wash your mouth out afterwards!

    In fact it's best to consume freshly juiced fruit and veg literally within 5 mins of it being juiced or a lot of the nutritional value is lost because when you juice things, you break down the cell walls so nutrients, although more bio available than when they're raw and whole, degrade quickly.

    I find that if you add a teaspoon or so of spirulina powder to the juice it really gives you a noticeable energy kick, not like a cup of coffee or energy drink, but a longer lasting, consistent boost, clears you head and it also suppresses appetite. The only downside is that spirulina tastes like something straight from satan's bottom, so a culinary delight it isn't....
    Do not write below this line. Office use only.
  • rokkala
    rokkala Posts: 649
    I quite like it, very refreshing when cold out the fridge. But i like beetroot...
  • Matt the Tester
    Matt the Tester Posts: 1,261
    yeah i read this as well it's nuts! i wouldn't mind trying this though as i might get better results in my solo rides when im pushing myself.
    Coveryourcar.co.uk RT Tester
    north west of england.
  • willbevan
    willbevan Posts: 1,241
    Not a wind up.

    Beetroot juice:

    Pros: proven increase in aerobic endurance performance, easy to consume (1 litre / day for ~6-10 days before event)

    Cons: expensive, high in calories (~800-900 cal per litre), turns urine purple

    High in Nitrate which is believed to increase oxidative functioning

    Bailey et al. 2009, JAP

    Linked study suggests 500ml a day for 6 days...

    Is there another study ive missed that suggests 1L per day and upto 10 days or have I missed soemthing obvious? :)

    Cheers

    Will
    Road - BTwin Sport 2 16s
    MTB - Trek Fuel 80
    TT - Echelon

    http://www.rossonwye.cyclists.co.uk/
  • willbevan wrote:
    Not a wind up.

    Beetroot juice:

    Pros: proven increase in aerobic endurance performance, easy to consume (1 litre / day for ~6-10 days before event)

    Cons: expensive, high in calories (~800-900 cal per litre), turns urine purple

    High in Nitrate which is believed to increase oxidative functioning

    Bailey et al. 2009, JAP

    Linked study suggests 500ml a day for 6 days...

    Is there another study ive missed that suggests 1L per day and upto 10 days or have I missed soemthing obvious? :)

    Cheers

    Will

    Just the information I received from the physiologists/coaches who look after the athletes at the Uni. Could probably find out for you if you're interested though?
    "A cyclist has nothing to lose but his chain"

    PTP Runner Up 2015
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    Thought I'd try eating beetroot regularly on the back of this - tried on yesterday - mission aborted - oh my god it's absolutely vile - I feel sick now just thinking about it. Is there not anything else that contains whatever is in beetroot that is beneficial ?

    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • add other fruit juices to change the taste.

    maybe bhima will be along to help. he has a good recipie for those with juicers
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/sports-nutrition-is-dietary-nitrate-the-key-to-enhanced-endurance-performance-41930

    That suggests there are alternative sources of the stuff that is supposed to be a benefit. To be honest I was eating a cooked beet rather than the juice - but I can't imagine how much fruit juice I'd have to add to make it palatable if the juice is anything like that - whereas some of those other sources such as lettuce, celery, rocket are quite palatable. I think I'll stick with them.

    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • rokkala
    rokkala Posts: 649
    http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/sports-nutrition-is-dietary-nitrate-the-key-to-enhanced-endurance-performance-41930

    That suggests there are alternative sources of the stuff that is supposed to be a benefit. To be honest I was eating a cooked beet rather than the juice - but I can't imagine how much fruit juice I'd have to add to make it palatable if the juice is anything like that - whereas some of those other sources such as lettuce, celery, rocket are quite palatable. I think I'll stick with them.

    Pretty sure i read in a study that it needs to be the juice that you drink, eating the beet doesn't give you the benefits described.

    And yes, the juice tastes exactly like the beet does!
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    Rokkala wrote:
    http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/sports-nutrition-is-dietary-nitrate-the-key-to-enhanced-endurance-performance-41930

    That suggests there are alternative sources of the stuff that is supposed to be a benefit. To be honest I was eating a cooked beet rather than the juice - but I can't imagine how much fruit juice I'd have to add to make it palatable if the juice is anything like that - whereas some of those other sources such as lettuce, celery, rocket are quite palatable. I think I'll stick with them.

    Pretty sure i read in a study that it needs to be the juice that you drink, eating the beet doesn't give you the benefits described.

    And yes, the juice tastes exactly like the beet does!

    I am on the last bottle - have had enough already...
    still tastes like has been juiced by the many feet of 20 stone Belorussian red cabbage growers.
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    Rokkala wrote:
    http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/sports-nutrition-is-dietary-nitrate-the-key-to-enhanced-endurance-performance-41930

    That suggests there are alternative sources of the stuff that is supposed to be a benefit. To be honest I was eating a cooked beet rather than the juice - but I can't imagine how much fruit juice I'd have to add to make it palatable if the juice is anything like that - whereas some of those other sources such as lettuce, celery, rocket are quite palatable. I think I'll stick with them.

    Pretty sure i read in a study that it needs to be the juice that you drink, eating the beet doesn't give you the benefits described.

    And yes, the juice tastes exactly like the beet does!

    The article above suggests it's just nitrate rich foods rather than beetroot or even beetroot juice in particular. Beetroot juice is probably just a very concentrated source.

    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • willbevan
    willbevan Posts: 1,241
    willbevan wrote:
    Not a wind up.

    Beetroot juice:

    Pros: proven increase in aerobic endurance performance, easy to consume (1 litre / day for ~6-10 days before event)

    Cons: expensive, high in calories (~800-900 cal per litre), turns urine purple

    High in Nitrate which is believed to increase oxidative functioning

    Bailey et al. 2009, JAP

    Linked study suggests 500ml a day for 6 days...

    Is there another study ive missed that suggests 1L per day and upto 10 days or have I missed soemthing obvious? :)

    Cheers

    Will

    Just the information I received from the physiologists/coaches who look after the athletes at the Uni. Could probably find out for you if you're interested though?

    if you could please as I am interested

    trying 6 days at half a litre for the next club TT

    had my first 1/4 of a litre just now, omg awful lol, going to add some ginger or soemthing to it!
    Road - BTwin Sport 2 16s
    MTB - Trek Fuel 80
    TT - Echelon

    http://www.rossonwye.cyclists.co.uk/
  • APIII
    APIII Posts: 2,010
    Does anyone know if it has to be 1/2l a day, or will you still get some benefit from a lesser amount (I've not checked the link to the study btw) . Not sure I could face all that juice in a day.
  • Hibbs
    Hibbs Posts: 291
    I only managed two bottles before giving up. Disgusting. Then tried a beetroot/cherry juice mix... the flavour isn't too bad, but you still get the aftertaste... It's like drinking cherry juice and then eating a bowlful of mud.

    Can it be taken intravenously? :lol:
  • ebt
    ebt Posts: 59
    On the continent painkillers are administered at the other end of the digestive tract, something to do with rapid absorbtion. Im just saying... thats all.

    (nothing to do with the amusement at the thought of you guys 'broadening your horizons' with purple root veg)
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    Best thing to do is mix the beetroot juice with something else. If you juice at home experiment by slinging in a couple of apples or a bit of ginger or something. You can make up some pretty tasty recipes
    Do not write below this line. Office use only.
  • if you try this dont be alarmed when you go pee it comes out red
    going downhill slowly
  • How about pills rather than juice, they any good?
  • MonaVie wrote:
    Really in any moment any place any you can take specially fruit juice, In this situation you easily take monavie juice.

    We all know about that stuff and the false claims made for acai berry -
    see Quackwatch and:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MonaVie
  • just did a handicapped league race where the scratch group averaged 45k/h for 1hr 15 min. I felt pretty bomb proof for the whole race and came 4th in the end. Have been 'experimenting' with beetroot juice. Took one raw beet juiced with 2 apples and some fresh ginger about 2.5 hours prior to race. I really felt strong. I have a science backround and am a total skeptic re homopathy, reik and all that nonsense. I have to say I noticed a major boost tonight.
  • Alex_Simmons/RST
    Alex_Simmons/RST Posts: 4,161
    homopathy
    lol. disease of humans

    I'm more than skeptical about homeopathy though. It's right up there in the dangerous nonsense stakes with the anti-vax crowd. Not dangerous to consume of course, but dangerous when used in place of proper medical treatment.
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    You can buy this stuff in those shot bottles now - less of it - 'cut with lemon juice' according to the blurb... note the indirect use of a drug world sub culture word... anyways beside that... who can afford £2 per day ad nauseam?
    No, I dont spend £4 perday on espressos from Starbucks either.....
    oh, according to the manufacturers ... you can't just eat beetroot of course and have the same 'effect'.
    Why so?
    Anyone know more?
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    JGSI wrote:
    oh, according to the manufacturers ... you can't just eat beetroot of course and have the same 'effect'.
    Why so?
    Let me guess...

    Seriously, paging Alex Simmons - as the owner of 90% of the coaching knowledge round here, what's your take on it? I notice that there seem to have been a few trials, some on the "take shortly before" principle, some dosing regularly.

    Mrs Bomp who is a doctor and actually knows some real science about metabolism says she thinks (a) it's the nitrates that count, unless the manufacturers are adding them artificially then this manufacturer's claims are bunk, (b) nitrates need to be converted into nitrites to do anything and (b) nitrites are short lived in the body, so long term dosing might not be at all helpful.

    Oh, and (d) she won't even discuss it any further until I lose a stone and actually get fit :oops:
  • ric/rstsport
    ric/rstsport Posts: 681
    bompington wrote:
    JGSI wrote:
    oh, according to the manufacturers ... you can't just eat beetroot of course and have the same 'effect'.
    Why so?
    Let me guess...

    Seriously, paging Alex Simmons - as the owner of 90% of the coaching knowledge round here, what's your take on it? I notice that there seem to have been a few trials, some on the "take shortly before" principle, some dosing regularly.

    Mrs Bomp who is a doctor and actually knows some real science about metabolism says she thinks (a) it's the nitrates that count, unless the manufacturers are adding them artificially then this manufacturer's claims are bunk, (b) nitrates need to be converted into nitrites to do anything and (b) nitrites are short lived in the body, so long term dosing might not be at all helpful.

    Oh, and (d) she won't even discuss it any further until I lose a stone and actually get fit :oops:


    a small body of evidence is appearing about this actually being an ergogenic aid. mrs bomp (or anyone else) can do a pub-med search on Andy Jones who is leading the way in this area. think he's currently based in Exeter. BBC1 covered this last week on a programme about human powered flight
    Coach to Michael Freiberg - Track World Champion (Omnium) 2011
    Coach to James Hayden - Transcontinental Race winner 2017, and 2018
    Coach to Jeff Jones - 2011 BBAR winner and 12-hour record
    Check out our new website https://www.cyclecoach.com
  • term1te
    term1te Posts: 1,462
    It wasn't long ago we were all doomed due to nitrates in drinking water, blue babies and the like. So the same nitrates that come out of farmers fields in rain water are dangerous, but if they come out wrapped in beetroots they're beneficial? I wonder how many people filter their water to remove the nitrates, then knock back some of the purple juice to improve their performance?

    My local supermarket has started selling organic beetroot juice recently, doesn't taste too bad, but I'm not sure if has improved my times.
  • racingcondor
    racingcondor Posts: 1,434
    just did a handicapped league race where the scratch group averaged 45k/h for 1hr 15 min. I felt pretty bomb proof for the whole race and came 4th in the end. Have been 'experimenting' with beetroot juice. Took one raw beet juiced with 2 apples and some fresh ginger about 2.5 hours prior to race. I really felt strong. I have a science backround and am a total skeptic re homopathy, reik and all that nonsense. I have to say I noticed a major boost tonight.

    Wait a minute. 1 post and someone who is 'in science' makes a statement that's clearly not scientific evidence... Damn the beet farmers have a good marketing company behind them! :lol:
  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    Just about to try some of these are they come in a vegetarian friendly capsule.

    http://www.zipvitsport.co.uk/products/b ... undle.html
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    Velonutter wrote:
    Just about to try some of these are they come in a vegetarian friendly capsule.

    http://www.zipvitsport.co.uk/products/b ... undle.html
    These, too, come in a vegetarian friendly package:
    IDShot_225x225.jpg
    - at less than 1% of the price...
  • ric/rstsport
    ric/rstsport Posts: 681
    personally i love a bit of pickled or roasted beetroot (and pickled red cabbage). however, i'm not certain how many you'd need to eat to be the equivalent of the amount you're supposed to drink for an ergogenic effect. i do know you can purchase "beet it" shots. for those who aint keen on the taste
    Coach to Michael Freiberg - Track World Champion (Omnium) 2011
    Coach to James Hayden - Transcontinental Race winner 2017, and 2018
    Coach to Jeff Jones - 2011 BBAR winner and 12-hour record
    Check out our new website https://www.cyclecoach.com