I'm Juiced

I admit it.

I juice.

Sometimes my preferred substance is hard to get. There seems to be a lot of athletes out there wanting that precious element which can boost stamina so you can exercise longer.

 

That's right.

I am talking about beetroots.

It's not found on the superfood lists, but they should be.

Beets are packed with antioxidants, nitrates, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, iron, vitamins A, C, K, B-12, B-6, folate, niacin, thiamine and riboflavin. They are also packed with fiber.

Since I juice the beets, I get all their benefits without the fiber.

 

Doesn't that look DELICIOUS????

 

It is delicious!

Especially when I think of all the health benefits.

Beets are a good source of oxalic acid, which is known to help remove inorganic calcium deposits from the body. When I read that my ears really perked up.

 

Why would my ears perk up?

Inorganic calcium deposits cause multiple health problems, such as kidney stones (which I have had), hardening of the arteries, (which I don't want to have) and joint pain and stiffness (other ailments, which I do not want to have).

 

So bring on the beet juice.

No, NOT Beetlejuice.....BEET JUICE!

 

I did buy beet juice before I got a juicer. But a small bottle of beet juice cost almost as much as a bottle of wine, and didn't taste nearly as good.

 

Some studies have suggested that beet juice can have a positive effect on the body during exercise.

 

One recent study showed that downing a glass of beet juice for six days enhanced overall physical performance and heart functioning during exercise.

 

Wow! That sounds great to me.

 

If drinking the above pictured concoction can allow me to exercise 16 percent longer, enhance my physical performance and heart functioning during exercise AND enable me to exercise longer without feeling tired, then I will happily be a juicer.

You may wonder why my pitcher of juice shown above is greenish instead of red.

This batch just happens to have kale in it.

It still taste like beet juice though.

 

 

Beets are a little tough to cut, even with a sharp knife. But it is worth it.

Scientist have found that cyclists who drank a half-liter of beetroot juice several hours before riding were able to ride up to 20 percent longer than those who drank a placebo juice.

 

 

A half liter of beer would probably go down easier than a half liter of beetroot juice. I just can't think of ANY cycling event that I'll be partaking in that would require me to drink that much beetroot juice.

 

Kale juice + beetroot juice = BROWN juice

 

Last scientific tidbit - a study at Wake Forest (and I looked it up and it is a University in North Carolina) showed through MRI imaging that drinking beetroot juice increased blood flow to the brain in healthy elderly people. It could also improve blood flow to skeletal muscles, according to the research.

This is not just advantageous to athletes, but to everyone as they age because it could be used to help improve muscle strength, thereby reducing falls, fractures and impairments associated with muscle weakness.

 

So raise your hand if you are drinking beet juice.

The hand of a beetroot juice Juicer!

Don't worry. It comes off with soap and water.

 

If you have any good juicing recipes you'd like to share, I'd love for you to include it in the comment sections or on my facebook page.

One warning - what goes in red, comes out red.