It may surprise you that…

At one point in time, people only consumed the Beet Greens, and then they would discard out the purple root.

Now we know better.

Beet Root, with it’s powerful purple pigmentation, is one of the most therapeutic performance enhancing food known to man.

What are the benefits of Beet Juice?

Beet Juice provides a healthy dose of several valuable nutrients required for life as well as additional ingredients that promote greater wellbeing.

Beet Juice benefit #1: Boost Nitric Oxide naturally

Beet Juice contains the precursor to nitrites, which is converted into Nitric Oxide in the body.

Nitric Oxide is extremely important and involved in everything blood related.

Nitric Oxide has been shown to…

• Reduce Blood Pressure
• Enhance endocrine and nervous system function
• Improve blood flow
• More nutrients into skeletal muscle and organs
• Removal of waste products like ammonia

Beet Juice benefit #2: Reduces Blood Pressure

This point must be restated.

In healthy volunteers, blood pressure was reduced within just 1 hour of ingesting beetroot juice, with a peak drop occurring 3-4 hours after ingestion. Some degree of reduction continued to be observed until up to 24 hours after ingestion.

With 25% of the population being somewhat hypertensive, there is a significant risk of cardiovascular disease. In fact — statistically, heart disease is a much greater threat to you and your family than any form of cancer.

Beet Juice benefit #3: Boosts Stamina

The research shows that after drinking Beet Juice, you could have a 16% increase in endurance alone.

Professor Andy Jones of the University of Exeter’s School of Sport and Health Sciences, said: “Our 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. I am sure professional and amateur athletes will be interested in the results of this research. 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.”

I personally notice a significant difference when I do take Beet Juice.

“Heavy on the beet” thats how I order at the Deli.

Beet Juice benefit #4: Makes the Impossible, Possible

As a result of the Nitric Oxide increase, the oxygen required by your body is lowered. This essentially means that your body can be pushed further and further…OR you can simply have a higher quality of life by staying active.

When consumed, beetroot juice has two marked physiological effects. Firstly, it widens blood vessels, reducing blood pressure and allowing more blood flow. Secondly, it affects muscle tissue, reducing the amount of oxygen needed by muscles during activity. The combined effects have a significant impact on performing physical tasks, whether it involves low-intensity or high-intensity effort.

“What we’ve seen in this study is that beetroot juice can actually reduce the amount of oxygen you need to perform even low-intensity exercise. In principle, this effect could help people do things they wouldn’t otherwise be able to do.“

No wonder I keep hitting personal records, it’s all ’cause of the local juicers.

Beet Juice benefit #5: Promotes Detoxification

The color of Beets is caused by a pigmentation molecule known as betalain. This color-causing agent has been shown to support Phase 2 Detoxification in the body.

Phase 2 is the metabolic step that our cells use to hook activated, unwanted toxic substances up with small nutrient groups. This “hook up” process effectively neutralizes the toxins and makes them sufficiently water-soluble for excretion in the urine.

Now keep in mind, if your urine turns a deep purple color, it doesn’t necessarily mean that its working. Purple urine simply indicates that your body was not able to absorb a certain amount of the betalains and was therefore excreted. You can try consuming the Beet Juice slower or with solid food for improved absorption.

Either way, considering the amount of toxins we are exposed to, detoxification on a daily basis is necessary for longevity and vitality.

Beet Juice benefit #6: Valuable Anti-Inflammatory

Did you know that most people would have NO NEED WHATSOEVER for Ibuprofen and other NSAID’s as long as they had a healthy diet? Actually, there are many herbs and foods which are naturally anti-inflammatory. Of course, avoiding refined sugar also plays a role in this.

One mechanism allowing these phytonutrients to lessen inflammation is their ability to inhibit the activity of cyclo-oxygenase enzymes (including both COX-1 and COX-2). The COX enzymes are widely used by cells to produce messaging molecules that trigger inflammation

NSAID’s like Ibuprofen are COX-2 inhibitors, but it comes at a cost of reduced intestinal health and immune systems.  Fortunately, Beet Juice also has potent anti-inflammatory properties so that you don’t need drugs with nasty side effects.

Beet Juice benefit #7: Synergistic Antioxidant Power

We want antioxidants because they reduce the damage of oxidation on a cellular level. Imagine rust on a car. That is oxidation. Antioxidants are molecules that reduce oxidative damage.

Known Antioxidants in Beets:

• Lutein
• Zeaxanthin
• Betalain (the pigmentation responsible for its purple color)
• Vitamin C
• Manganese

Together, these antioxidants support Eye health and over Nerve Tissue health.

Beet Juice benefit #8: Reduces Homocysteine levels in the body

If you have read my blog before, you know how passionate I am about reducing Homocysteine. Since Homocysteine is both a marker of inflammatory damage and a cause of inflammatory damage, we want it to be at a low level in the body.

Beet Juice contains Trimethylglycine, which is also known as Betaine. This is a significant Methyl-donor, which can remethylize Homocysteine back into the valuable amino acid L-Methionone.

The process is sort of a re-use, re-cycle such that L-Methionine is highly valuable but it creates the byproduct of Homocysteine. Then, if nutrients like Betaine are available to donate a Methyl molecule, it can convert the dangerous Homocysteine back into a beneficial substance.

Beet Juice also contains Folic Acid, which is considered to be in the class of B-Vitamins. Folic Acid is one of the most highly regarded supplemental nutrients during pregnancy because it has been proven to reduce birth defects.

Folic Acid is important for everyone. It is important for the basic reason that it is one of THE most effective ways to decrease homocysteine levels in the body.

Beet Juice benefit #9: Tumor inhibiting and Cancer CURE…?

I can’t say with proof that Beet Juice can cure cancer or shrink tumors. But I do know that alternative doctors have successfully used Beet Juice as a part of treatment in severe cancer cases.

An article in the February 25, 1996, issue of Cancer Letters reports on an animal study that shows that beetroot has a significant tumor-inhibiting effect. The abstract for the study says, “The combined findings suggest that beetroot ingestion can be one of the useful means to prevent cancer.”

Regardless, the proven benefits of Beet Juice should yield beneficial for every persons … with or without cancer.

Where do you get Beet Juice?

You can get Beet Juice at most local markets, delis, and co-ops. It is usually mixed with Carrot juice as a base because beet juice alone can be very potent.

For people who are severely ill, they may benefit from purchasing a high quality home juicer, which may be slower than a commercial juicer — but can preserve more nutrients.

Get Down with the BEET!

I love the stuff.

In terms of health, athletic performance, and body-composition, Beet is a real winner.

Get down with the beet just a few times and you may never go back.

Good luck to all, and thanks for being a part of this.