Dietary nitrate—found in beetroot juice—significantly increases muscle force during exercise

Medical Xpress / University of Exeter / Acta Physiologica ^ | Jan. 23, 2023 | Stefan Kadach et al

[ConservativeMind]

A new study has found that consuming dietary nitrate—the active molecule in beetroot juice—significantly increased muscle force while exercising.

While it is known that dietary nitrate enhances exercise, both boosting endurance and enhancing high-intensity exercise, researchers still have much to learn about why this effect occurs, and how our bodies convert dietary nitrate that we ingest into the nitric oxide that can be used by our cells.

To help close this gap traced the distribution of ingested nitrate in the saliva, blood, muscle and urine of ten healthy volunteers, who were then asked to perform maximal leg exercise. The team wanted to discover where in the body the dietary nitrate was active, to give clues on the mechanisms at work.

An hour after the nitrate was taken, participants were asked to perform 60 contractions of the quadriceps—the thigh muscle active while straightening the knee—at maximum intensity over five minutes on an exercise machine. The team found a significant increase in the nitrate levels in muscle. During the exercises, researchers found this nitrate boost caused an increase in muscle force of seven percent, compared to when the participants took a placebo.

Andy Jones, "Our research has already provided a large body of evidence on the performance-enhancing properties of dietary nitrate, commonly found in beetroot juice. Excitingly, this latest study provides the best evidence to date on the mechanisms behind why dietary nitrate improves human muscle performance."

Previous studies had found an increase of nitrate in tissue and body fluid after ingesting labeled dietary nitrate. By using the tracer in the new study, researchers were able to accurately assess where nitrate is increased and active, and also shed new light on how the nitrate we consume is used to enhance exercise performance.

[bimboeruption]

I’m 73.

[bimboeruption]

I forgot to add that I have 4 stents in my heart...extremely high cholesterol due to familial hypercholesterolemia.

[ConservativeMind]

The concern is that the bacteria we need are getting killed.

Hydrogen peroxide likely kills those germs.

[daniel1212]

The concern is that the bacteria we need are getting killed. Hydrogen peroxide likely kills those germs.

It is cheap and wakes you up a little. But no mouthwash? Finally an excuse for "bad breath?"

[TribalPrincess2U]

Thanks for your input. Word of mouth is the best.

[minnesota_bound]

nitrate? He done blowed up real good.

[minnesota_bound]

#7 Also viagra is good for a sunburn...

If you have sunburn, take viagra.
It doesn’t cure the sunburn, but it keeps the bed sheets off your legs…

[minnesota_bound]

I have a blood pressure tool from Omron. My blood pressure is always around 120 / 80
I am 5’11” and 185 to 190lbs. I do need to exercise more and I have a stepper to get me walking when indoors.

I eat 2 link sausages or 2 patties and 2 eggs and hash browns (when available) nearly every day since I retired a year ago. When I was working I did not have time to eat a hot breakfast if any breakfast at all and my blood pressure was much higher.
I also snack too much on chips.

You can buy Niacin (always take right after a meal or you will turn beet red) and take cinnamon tablets and potassium pills.

I bought mine at Amazon: NOW Niacin 500mg sustained release to minimize flushing.

[Basket_of_Deplorables]

Cinnamon helps with BP? I need all the help I can get.