Beets have long been touted as a magical food known as a superfood, as it is rich in a wide range of vitamins and nutrients. As such, beet shots have become all the rage for anyone looking for a quick dose of superpower in a vegetable. When you are looking for the magic in this root vegetable, it is considered an excellent source of folate, potassium, fiber, Vitamin C, and nitrates.
It is estimated that one cup of raw beets contains 58 calories and up to 13 grams of carbohydrates. These numbers change to 25 grams of carbohydrates and 100 calories when the vegetable is converted into beetroot juice, a juice that is consumed by the masses for energy and health benefits.
You will hear a lot about nitrates when you hear of beet juice or beet shots, but there is so much more to this vegetable than that. Nitrates are a good starting point for beet shots, but you’ll find a lot of power in a little shot of juice. This is an easy and affordable power to latch onto. Learn more about nitrates and the many other benefits of beet juice shots in this comprehensive guide on beet shots.
The Science of Beet Root Shots
Beet shots are a trendy drink that is made from concentrated beet juice. It is a juice that is made from the bulk and juice of raw beetroot. It is the raw nature of the beetroot shots that make this trend a superfood. The benefits for human health are numerous, as beets are one of the best foods that you can have.
You will hear about nitrates a lot when it comes to beet shots, but one key benefit of beetroot juice or beet root shots is found in folate. Beets are an excellent source of folate which is a vitamin in the Vitamin B family.
This nutrient can help to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida, which is why folic acid is a gold standard vitamin recommended to pregnant women. For women that are childbearing or want to get pregnant, beet shots are an ideal source of essential vitamins that can contribute to your overall health.
Chronic inflammation is another source of health that beetroot shots can help with. When the body is fighting many things at once, such as a heart problem or liver disease, eating superfoods like beetroot juice can help tremendously. Where beet shots win here lies in their compounds that include betalains. This chemical in beets has been shown to reduce inflammation in the joints and tissues of rats and likely does the same in the human body.
While consuming raw beetroot juice is going to be the recommendation over any other kind of beets, even consuming betalain capsules where beets are the primary ingredient has been shown to reduce inflammation.
Good heart health is also frequently linked to beets, making beetroot shots an ideal food. Beetroot shots will reduce homocysteine, a chemical that is linked to the increased risk of heart disease and artery damage. The nitrate power in beet shots can combat homocysteine, dilating your blood vessels to help your circulation and improve blood flow to all parts of your body.
Beetroot shots are also incredibly high in prebiotic fiber, a kind of fiber that helps to improve your energy levels and aid in digestion. Not only will you stay regular, but your body will feel more cleansed and you will have more energy as a result.
Other minerals that you will find in concentrated beet juice or beetroot shots include:
- Iron
- Zinc
- Copper
- Selenium
- Magnesium
which all contribute to more energy and better overall health. Another energy source found in beet shots is in their potassium. This is an electrolyte in beet form that can help to improve energy flows for any person, any walk of life.
Another key benefit of beet shots is that they reduce inflammation and improve the immune system, and science is there to back it up.
Beets are a natural anti-inflammatory and many studies have shown that they also contain vital amino acids that can improve the functioning of the immune system. These amino acids and the antioxidants found in beets help to prepare the immune system pathways that contribute to better overall health.
A wide body of research indicates that antioxidants and beets have been linked to better immune system function for many different diseases and disorders.
Improved athletic performance is another key benefit of drinking beet shots, with millions of athletes all over the world incorporating beet shots into their daily routines and meal planning. In these shots, you will find Vitamin B vitamins that contribute to athletic performance and success. These vitamins provide increased red blood cell production and they also provide cognitive benefits such as a more clear mind and improved brain function.
Beet Shots and Sports
Beet root juice shots are a hot trend in sports today as well. Athletes of all levels speak accolades of beet shots for the increased stamina that they bring. In one study, athletes that drank beet shots improved their cyclist timing by 12 seconds in consequent races.
When oxygen output was measured, there was improvement there too. That is because there is a little bit of sugar in beets as well, and with the other nutrients combined, improved blood flow is also going to result in improved oxygen flow. For athletes with objectives to succeed personally and professionally, saying no to beet shots with that kind of data is a very difficult thing to do.
Beet Shots for Brain Health
With all of this said about improved blood flow and improved oxygen flow, it stands to reason that beet shots would be good for the brain and the mind as well. Some studies have linked concentrated beetroot juice to the slowing of the progression of diseases such as dementia.
One study that tested participants with MRIs of the brain after drinking beet shots showed that there was an increase of blood flow to the frontal lobes. Researchers here made a correlation that suggests increased blood flow to the brain is a direct result of beet juice from concentrate.
The frontal lobes are the lobes that are connected to the executive function of the human brain, where planning and order are found. Here is where the human brain makes big decisions and also where the brain plans for the future. Consequences and planned outcomes can come from the frontal lobe.
When you add beet shots to the diet, you can improve the flow of oxygen and blood to the brain, specifically to the frontal lobe, and with time experience cognitive improvement or clearer-headed thinking during the day.
Keep all of these benefits in mind when a myth that beet shots aren’t good for you may arise. Beet juice is a tremendous source of a wide range of wonderful vitamins and nutrients. These will increase energy levels and stamina, and provide a wide range of additional health benefits as well.
Although beet shots can be favored by many athletes of all levels, these benefits are there for you whether you are looking for better performance or not.
Consuming beet shots the right way is the key to accessing these benefits. Although cooked beets provide an excellent source of vitamins and nutrients, some of these nutrients are lost in the cooking process. Consuming beet shots from raw beets is the best way to maximize the potential of beetroot shots, and also gain the most benefits from them.
Timing your Beet Shots
You can safely drink beet juice shots and eat beets every day, with as many shots as you want. Some studies have indicated that beet shots should be consumed two to three hours before a workout or athletic performance. The same timing could be said if you want to consume beet shots for brain power or brain performance.
If you don’t want to have a schedule for beet shots that is that regimented, adding beet shots to your morning meal or routine is an ideal time to ensure that these essential vitamins and nutrients end up in your day.
Raw beets or juicing raw beets is the most ideal way to take advantage of all of these benefits. If you don’t like the taste of raw beets alone, you can add multiple different tastes that are healthy to sweeten the beet shots. Ingredients like apples, mint, or a variety of citrus flavors can make beet shots so much more enjoyable for those that cringe at the sight of vegetables.
Precautions for Beet Shots
Whenever you are adding a new thing to your diet or health plan, you always need to consider what if any precautions there are. Beet juice shots are no different, but the potential side effects or negative impacts are few. With beetroot shots comes the benefit of lower blood pressure. At the same time, for those with low blood pressure, consuming beet shots in excess could be harmful.
You may also see more colored stools or urine after consuming beet shots. This is not unlike getting different-colored urine after eating asparagus. This is harmless and merely an effect of processing a colored vegetable. This effect will be more startling than anything else. However, this startling effect can have a negative emotional impact on some people such as the elderly that may live at home and drink beet juice from concentrate. It is a precaution to warn those that drink beet shots to ensure the experience is enjoyable.
Those that are prone to kidney stones may be at a higher risk for kidney stones with excessive consumption of beet juice. Beets have a high concentration of oxalates and these could stay in the body, resulting in kidney stones for those that are not careful. These precautions are for the most part mild, but worth considering all the same.
Make Your Own Beet Shots
Beet shots are easy to make, and you don’t need a lot of equipment to make them. Save money on vitamin supplements and invest the savings in a good juicer or blender to make your beet shots. You will get the same benefits in a much more natural and healthy way.
In many cases, the prime ingredient in beetroot shots is beets, and you just need to juice them and then drink them raw. You can add whatever liquid that you want, such as water, soy milk, honey, or even a little bit of your favorite juice.
You want to first cut the beets up into pieces as small as you can make them but don’t grate them. Grating them will leave a lot on the grater and you won’t get as much as you can from the beets. Leave the skin on the beet shots when you are juicing. If you are using a juicer, you want to put the beets in one piece at a time. Juice it, and drink it!
With a liquid of your choice, you can also blend the beets in a blender you may already have. Here you can add as many beet chunks as you want at a time. Again, play with flavors here. You can add anything you’d like, but favorites include
- Apple
- Cucumber
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Honey
- Basil
You can make your beet shots taste sweet or give them a salty and savory twist. Cut the beets, juice them with your favorite flavors, and enjoy.
Drink Beet Shots Today
If you are looking for a healthy trend that will improve your energy, increase your blood and oxygen flow, and maybe even help you to lose weight or feel smarter, try beet shots. These will help you with athletic performance, but also in day-to-day living as well.
The health benefits of beetroot juice shots are numerous. Start drinking them today and see the “feel better” benefits for yourself.
