How does beetroot juice affect exercise performance?

Beetroot juice can positively affect exercise performance due to its nutritional components that aid in improving endurance and stamina. Specifically, beetroot juice acts as a source of dietary nitrate, which is converted into nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide helps in vasodilation, meaning it widens the blood vessels and promotes better blood flow. This increases oxygen and nutrient transport to the muscles during endurance activities.

In a discussion on non-stimulant performance enhancers, Andy Galpin mentioned that beetroot juice extract is consistent and effective in enhancing performance, particularly in moderate to longer duration endurance performance. Unlike stimulants, beetroot juice does not disrupt sleep, making it a suitable option for individuals who need to train in the evenings. However, a note of caution was added by Andrew Huberman regarding individuals who have a predisposition to cold sores, as beetroot's activation of the arginine pathway could exacerbate this condition due to its connection to some neural viruses 1.