Beet-It! Drinking beetroot juice increases stamina

First it was spinach, then coconut water… and now the humble beetroot has been hailed THE superfood to watch out for.

Hardly surprising considering its track record - it's proven to improve cardiovascular health, keep illness and infection at bay and enhance sporting performance.

Breakthrough research by the University of Exeter, published in the journal of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found that competitive-level cyclists who drank beetroot juice were able to cut down the time it took to ride a given distance.

Researchers studied nine club-level male cyclists, who drank half a litre of beetroot juice before competing in two separate time trials.

The cyclists consumed real beetroot juice before the first trial and, unbeknown to the cyclists, a 'placebo' beetroot juice before the second trial.

A critical ingredient, nitrate, had been removed from the 'placebo' beetroot juice.

Results showed that the riders who consumed the real beetroot juice were an average of 11 seconds quicker over 4 kilometres and 45 seconds quicker over 16.1 kilometres.

The study, which used British brand BEET IT beetroot juice, concluded that the cyclists could attribute their increased stamina to the naturally high levels of Nitric Oxide (NO) found in beetroot.

Firstly, the Nitric Oxide triggers a chemical reaction which leads to the dilation of blood vessels to increase blood flow.

Secondly, it affects muscle tissue, reducing the amount of oxygen required by muscles during physical exertion. Combined, beetroot juice is the perfect all-natural energy hit to ensure peak performance at any sporting level.

To read more about the benefits of beetroot check on the Beet-it website.

NASA Sports Drink Gives Everyone the Right Stuff

Spacewalks, extreme G forces, micro-gravity - astronauts must be able to handle it all. Staying hydrated and healthy is crucial.

To help astronauts avoid muscle fatigue and dizziness from dehydration, NASA scientists developed an electrolyte formula that is now available for weekend warriors and athletes here on Earth. The formula is a concentrated liquid that when mixed with water quickly restores hydration and prevents fluid loss.

Scientists at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., put 15 years of research into the drink's development. NASA astronauts have been drinking the formula on missions for nearly 20 years. The commercial version was licensed to Wellness Brands Inc. of Boulder, Colo., and branded "The Right Stuff." They shipped their first orders on June 11.

"We developed the hydration formula to perform optimally under the most extreme conditions. The health of our highly trained astronauts was paramount," said John Greenleaf, a former Ames research scientist and inventor of the formula, in a recent statement. "With all that Americans and the government have invested in the space program and our astronauts, this is one clear way to protect and maximize that investment."