Dietary nitrate, which can commonly be found in beetroot juice, has been seen to be a fitness hack in various ways, such as by boosting endurance and increasing performance of high-intensity activities. Dietary nitrate turns into nitric oxide after undergoing various processes within the body. The molecule has particularly high concentrations in beetroot, which is why Healthline has dubbed beetroot as one of the best foods for boosting nitric oxide levels.
While the benefits of this molecule have been established in prior literature, specialists still have so much to know about such effects and how the body is capable of turning the nitrate into nitric oxide that the cells can use.
Dietary Nitrate Boosts Muscle Force
According to SciTechDaily, to be able to know more about this, scientists from the National Institute of Health and University of Exeter performed a study wherein they monitored nitrate distribution among ten volunteers. The volunteers ingested the nitrate and were monitored through their urine, muscle, blood, and saliva. They also went through leg exercises in order to see if the dietary nitrate they ingested was active.
One hour after they took the dietary nitrate, the volunteers were tasked to do 60 quadricep contractions with an exercise machine at the highest intensity for five minutes. Through this, the researchers were able to observe heightened levels of dietary nitrate within the muscles. During the period of physical activity, the scientists also observed that this boost in nitrate led muscle force to increase by 7%. This was in comparison to when participants ingested a placebo.
Professor of applied physiology, Andy Jones, from the University of Exeter expresses that the research grants much evidence regarding how dietary nitrate has properties that boost performance. The latest study provides even more solid evidence regarding the reason behind the remarkable muscle performance improvement brought about by dietary nitrate.
Prior research observed nitrate boosts in body fluids and tissue after taking in dietary nitrate that is labeled. Through the new study's tracer, the scientists were able to precisely evaluate the activity and increase of dietary nitrate. The findings also shed light on how dietary nitrate boosts muscle performance during physical activity.
Beyond Fitness
Science Daily reports that research collaborator Dr. Barbora Piknova, who is also a staff scientist at the National Institute of Health's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, expresses how the study serves as the first source of direct proof that the levels of nitrate within muscles matter when it comes to exercise performance. They presumably serve as a nitric oxide source.
While these results directly impact the world of fitness, they go beyond it. Science Daily reports that such findings can also help other medical fields, such as metabolic conditions that are linked to deficiencies of nitric oxide.
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