I am now 50 years old. I started taking beet powder about 5 years ago because I was trying to find a nutritional way to improve my cardiovascular fitness. I am always hesitant about supplements, but when my joints started giving out, I started trying collagen powder and that helped a lot.
I can honestly say that I noticed a change immediately. My energy improved. I no longer felt fatigued during workouts, and I just have this more youthful energy. I don't struggle breathing. Working out with a mask during the pandemic helped with that as it strengthened my breathing muscles.
I also observed that if I go to a juicing store and get a fresh vegetable drink with beet juice in it, I get even more energy and focus than the beet powder.
Vallarta supermarket has a vegetable drink called "Vampiro" and it has beets but also has some parsley in it and other veggies. I got so much done that day. It gave me focus and energy without the crash I would get from caffeine. I think it has kale in it too.
Does adding leafy greens also help with getting more Nitric Oxide?
Thanks Rhea. Which beet powder do you use? I had the same experience. Yes, spinach, arugula, beets and celery have a high nitrate content, which oral bacteria and stomach acid turn into nitric oxide. I will look into Vampiro, sounds interesting.
There hasn't been enough interest or money in studying women's post-menopausal fitness issues. I eat a high protein diet and lift heavy 3-4 times per week, but have been experiencing longer recovery times and weight gain since going through menopause. Every physician I have seen tells me there is nothing wrong with me and it's just what happens after menopause. It is very frustrating
This is very interesting. I'm 63 and spent my 20s, 30s and early 40s, working out and keeping fit. Life got in the way at 45 and I've put on 30-40 lbs and I just can't keep up any exercise routine to lose and keep it off, except during the pandemic. My endurance is low and it's depressing, thus making me not want to work out. I'm going to try the beet juice before working out. I happen to have a powered drink mix I occasionally use for blood pressure. I hope this helps!
Thank you for sharing this! I’m a 45 yo marathon runner and I’ve been ignoring beet root supplements because I thought they were better for men and showed less efficacy for women. I am going to try this out now as I train for Boston in April!
Yes they eventually do but that shouldn't stop us from looking for ways to improve our quality of life when we are here. Not only that, so little research has been done on midlife people it really is a shame.
I am one of those "older" people who have definitely felt a shift in my exercise routine. Protein, strength training were most widely recommended and I have started strength training in addition to cardio. I wasn't familiar with the blood flow theory and will continue to monitor. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Is this the same as zeta potential? I wonder how doing things to support greater zeta potential and EZ water in the body would impact this (red/near infrared light therapy, grounding, etc)
In the first study you mentioned, it appears that five women in their 20s were compared to five women in their 60s. This seems to be a pretty small sample size. I’m curious what effects were found for the male subject comparison?
How about the second study? I may have missed it, but I don’t see a mention of the sample size, authors, citation.
I link to studies in the piece that you can click on (link above). It's very clear, though, that as women age they are prone to endothelial dysfunction and these studies highlight the importance and I hope to see larger trials because this area has been neglected.
I am now 50 years old. I started taking beet powder about 5 years ago because I was trying to find a nutritional way to improve my cardiovascular fitness. I am always hesitant about supplements, but when my joints started giving out, I started trying collagen powder and that helped a lot.
I can honestly say that I noticed a change immediately. My energy improved. I no longer felt fatigued during workouts, and I just have this more youthful energy. I don't struggle breathing. Working out with a mask during the pandemic helped with that as it strengthened my breathing muscles.
I also observed that if I go to a juicing store and get a fresh vegetable drink with beet juice in it, I get even more energy and focus than the beet powder.
Vallarta supermarket has a vegetable drink called "Vampiro" and it has beets but also has some parsley in it and other veggies. I got so much done that day. It gave me focus and energy without the crash I would get from caffeine. I think it has kale in it too.
Does adding leafy greens also help with getting more Nitric Oxide?
Thanks Rhea. Which beet powder do you use? I had the same experience. Yes, spinach, arugula, beets and celery have a high nitrate content, which oral bacteria and stomach acid turn into nitric oxide. I will look into Vampiro, sounds interesting.
Thank you.
There hasn't been enough interest or money in studying women's post-menopausal fitness issues. I eat a high protein diet and lift heavy 3-4 times per week, but have been experiencing longer recovery times and weight gain since going through menopause. Every physician I have seen tells me there is nothing wrong with me and it's just what happens after menopause. It is very frustrating
This is very interesting. I'm 63 and spent my 20s, 30s and early 40s, working out and keeping fit. Life got in the way at 45 and I've put on 30-40 lbs and I just can't keep up any exercise routine to lose and keep it off, except during the pandemic. My endurance is low and it's depressing, thus making me not want to work out. I'm going to try the beet juice before working out. I happen to have a powered drink mix I occasionally use for blood pressure. I hope this helps!
Thank you for sharing this! I’m a 45 yo marathon runner and I’ve been ignoring beet root supplements because I thought they were better for men and showed less efficacy for women. I am going to try this out now as I train for Boston in April!
Thanks Meg! Let me know how it goes. And good luck with the Boston marathon!
Thanks for sharing this. Do you know if beetroot juice helps with weight loss and/or body composition (the expanding waistline)?
In theory but so far research is sparse and inconclusive https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/effects-of-beetroot-and-nitrate-supplementation-on-body-composition-a-gradeassessed-systematic-review-and-metaanalysis/949832E60B3818D6D849353FC0B117FE
It’s called aging. Parts wear out.
Yes they eventually do but that shouldn't stop us from looking for ways to improve our quality of life when we are here. Not only that, so little research has been done on midlife people it really is a shame.
Following this to learn more
Do you have any affiliation with any of the beetroot juice companies? Just wondering.
No, I don't. I did host a giveaway awhile back and Beet-It donated product. I'm independent and don't work with any companies.
Interesting! Who funded the beet studies? Were they independent or funded by a company?
Beet-It supplied product but I don't think funded studies. They are in many studies.
Nicely done 👏🏻. We need more voices like yours, advocating for more research in the areas of women’s health!
Thank you! And, yes, we do!
Might kvass work?
I've never heard of it.
It's an Eastern European fermented beet drink
I am one of those "older" people who have definitely felt a shift in my exercise routine. Protein, strength training were most widely recommended and I have started strength training in addition to cardio. I wasn't familiar with the blood flow theory and will continue to monitor. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Thanks Rhonda! It’s definitely a missing component.
I started taking the Beet-It before workouts. Too early to tell if it makes a difference, but will keep you posted.
Thanks! Please do!
Is this the same as zeta potential? I wonder how doing things to support greater zeta potential and EZ water in the body would impact this (red/near infrared light therapy, grounding, etc)
I s never heard of it! Will have to look it up.
The Midwestern Doctors stack the Forgotten Side of medicine has some great in depth articles on it!
Crack of down or crack of dawn?
Crack of dawn....just changed it. Thanks for the catch.
In the first study you mentioned, it appears that five women in their 20s were compared to five women in their 60s. This seems to be a pretty small sample size. I’m curious what effects were found for the male subject comparison?
How about the second study? I may have missed it, but I don’t see a mention of the sample size, authors, citation.
Yes it is small. So is the second one with 24 postmenopausal women. https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpregu.00150.2024
I link to studies in the piece that you can click on (link above). It's very clear, though, that as women age they are prone to endothelial dysfunction and these studies highlight the importance and I hope to see larger trials because this area has been neglected.