Red beet has long been considered one of the best organic vegan supplements, with the betalains in beetroot taken from the leaves and roots of the plants. These antioxidants are considered beneficial for sports and athletic performance alongside general health.

While studies are ongoing, research projects have found that red beets have a range of health-promoting properties as a functional food or supplement that helps us naturally increase the availability of nitric oxide in our bodies–a lack of which is linked to health concerns like high blood pressure.

Incorporating beets into your nutrition or taking supplements is thought to help combat cholesterol and inflammation, along with the benefits of better nitric oxide availability. This is why red beets are an excellent way to increase stamina, endurance, and power during exercise.

Understanding the Use of Red Beets as a Vegan-Friendly Antioxidant

Betalains are a natural plant-based chemical found in beets, with many nutritionists advocating for betalain for antioxidant support. Without diving too deep into the technicalities, antioxidants are good for us because they:

• Lower oxidative stress, which contributes to damage on a cellular level and is often associated with chronic health conditions

• Work to neutralize free radicals–unstable molecules that can damage cells

• Potentially help reduce the risk of disease, with scientists acknowledging that diets high in antioxidants generally mean individuals have a lower likelihood of developing a serious illness

Our bodies produce some antioxidants, but many find that increasing their intake through diet and supplementation improves their overall health, sense of wellbeing, and fitness levels.

How Are Red Beet Supplements Good for Health?

Red beets, either in their natural form, in a beet juice drink, or as a supplement, are thought to improve performance during exercise–primarily aerobic exercise that commands higher levels of oxygen efficiency. Long used by elite athletes and endurance competitors, red beets are also thought to help in recovery, reducing the extent of muscular soreness after high-impact activities or aiding in a faster recovery time.

Other benefits remain under study, but there are early indications that red beets have positive impacts on people trying to improve their cardiovascular health, tackle high cholesterol, reduce hypertension, or lower blood pressure. Beets are low in calories, high in vitamins A, C, and B vitamins, and a natural source of folate, iron, magnesium, potassium, nitrates, silica, and manganese, so it is potentially unsurprising that this humble root vegetable can have such a compelling impact on your overall health.

Importantly, the betalain antioxidants in beets are best absorbed through a supplement because exposure to water and heat during cooking means these incredible antioxidants break down.

Which Red Beet Supplements Are Right for Me?

As specialists in all-natural, vegan supplements, we recognize that much may depend on your lifestyle goals and aspirations. However, for many people, red beets are a valuable addition to their supplement regime, which is why we offer two beet-powered supplements that may be of interest:

• Our Organic Beet Root capsules contain beet powder to support healthy circulation, improve stamina and endurance, and aid healthy blood pressure/

• Sur’s AltRed supplement is also made with beet root extract, although it is standardized to contain 25% betalains in each capsule. This top-selling supplement ensures you achieve the optimal oxygen-enhancing benefits of betalains, augmenting oxygen delivery, recovery times, and lactate acid threshold.

The primary contrast between Organic Beet Root and AltRed is that, while both are formulated from organic beets, AltRed has a higher concentration of betalains, which are absorbed rapidly.

Our Organic Beet Root supplement is perfect for improving the rate of nitric oxide production over the long term due to the natural nitrates in each capsule. AltRed doesn't contain sugar or nitrates but provides a more concentrated betalain boost as an advanced formula for athletes and competitors!