The Secret to Enhanced Workout Recovery

Most supplement companies make big promises that often lead to bigger disappointments. While we prefer getting most of our nutrients from food, some benefits are tough to achieve through diet alone. I've already shared my love for creatine due to its well-documented cognitive and physical benefits. Now, there’s another ingredient worth your attention: nitrates.

Nitrates, commonly found in beetroot juice (or in smaller amounts in beets), could be the recovery boost you've been searching for. Research suggests that beetroot, which increases nitric oxide in your body, promotes better blood flow and oxygen delivery to your muscles, enhancing recovery.

Remember, the foundation of great recovery starts with proper workout management, sleep, and nutrition. These should always be your top priorities. But if you’ve got those covered and still feel like you could bounce back quicker, beetroot might be worth a try.

To get the most out of beetroot, timing and exercise type are key. Taking beetroot before your workouts appears to offer the greatest benefits, particularly for anaerobic activities like weight training. For longer endurance workouts or cardio, the improvements are less impressive or even non-existent.