Experts: Beetroot juice boosts stamina

With employees working longer and longer days and juggling a chaotic domestic life, many turn to a few cups of strong coffee to perk them and get them through the day.

However, a more healthy alternative may soon take off in popularity, following the publication of new research which suggests that beetroot juice is a great way of boosting stamina.

Healthcare experts at the University of Exeter have conducted a study which reveals that the drink is instrumental in raising the body's energy levels, enabling people with individual health insurance to get throughout the day without relying on caffeine-laced substances.

The research team conducted a study on eight men aged between 19 and 38 who were all given 500ml per day of organic beetroot juice for six days.

Each of the men did a series of exercises both before the study began and afterwards, and the specialists noted that every person was able to finish the activities both quicker and with more vigour after the juice course.

Professor Andy Jones, professor of applied physiology at the University of Exeter's School of Sport and Health Sciences, said the study is the first to show that nitrate-rich food can increase exercise endurance.

"We were amazed by the effects of beetroot juice on oxygen uptake because these effects cannot be achieved by any other known means, including training," he commented.

Although recent studies published in the Cancer Prevention Research journal revealed that vegetables such as broccoli may be able to fight stomach cancer, this research is one of the first to make a link between a vegetable and direct energy-giving properties.

Professor Jones said that people with affordable health insurance who often struggle to find the stamina to exercise should consider this option.

"I am also keen to explore the relevance of the findings to those people who suffer from poor fitness and may be able to use dietary supplements to help them go about their daily lives," he suggested.

By Stephen Tate

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