Study Says To Drink Beet Juice After A Workout To Stimulate Blood Flow

If you are looking for a post-workout beverage besides water, opt for beet juice.

A new study published by the American Journal of Physiology found that beet juice can lower blood pressure after exercising.

Researchers from Kyung University and the University of California, Davis, studied 14 men who drank beet juice over the course of 15 days. They found that the men had lower blood pressure and more dilated blood vessels.

Dilated blood vessels increase blood flow and allow the heart to consume less oxygen during exercise. Beet juice also acts as a dietary nutraceutical supplement, bringing in more oxygen to muscles. Researchers explained that this means exercise can be "performed at a given workload for a longer period of time before the onset of fatigue." This is especially helpful for people who do a lot of cardio-heavy workouts, such as long-distance running.

Beets have also been found to lower blood pressure, hypertension, and risk of heart attack or stroke, so they truly fit the definition of "superfood."