Beetroot juice for a sharper brain

Pomegranate juice is passe. Beetroot juice should be your new health fix, say experts.

Pomegranate juice is passe. Beetroot juice should be your new health fix, say experts. Already touted as a health tonic for enhancing sexual function and digestion and sharpening brain power, beetroot juice is now being recommended by British researchers who claim it helps the elderly live more active lives.

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A new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that drinking about 500ml (a little over 2 cups) of beetroot juice in a day can make activities such as walking, less exhausting for seniors. Another study in the UK revealed that beetroot juice enhances performance in athletes while lowering blood pressure. The performance boost is due to the high levels of nitrates — when nitrate turns into nitric oxide in the body, it reduces the amount of oxygen required for exercise. But, there’s a word of caution: never drink beet juice without mixing it with other vegetable or apple juice. Pure beet juice could temporarily paralyse your vocal chords or cause fever.