When athletes search for the best sports performance supplement, they’re often looking for an edge that’s proven, plant-based, and trusted. While beet supplements have been popular for years, a new option is changing the game: AltRed. Designed for endurance, recovery, and overall oxygen efficiency, AltRed is made from betalains: plant compounds naturally found in beets but isolated for greater effectiveness.

Athletes should take AltRed because it helps improve oxygen delivery, supports faster recovery, and reduces muscle soreness, making it a powerful alternative to traditional beet supplements. Unlike standard beetroot powders or juices, AltRed is Informed Sport certified, meaning it’s safe, tested, and trusted by professional athletes worldwide.

Choosing to take AltRed means choosing a supplement that works with your body on a cellular level, helping you push harder in training and recover faster after. Whether you’re a runner, cyclist, or weekend warrior, AltRed offers the performance benefits of beets, without the excess sugar, nitrates, or stomach discomfort that often comes with them. For athletes who want more than a quick boost, it’s an all-in-one solution for endurance, performance, and recovery.

 

What Makes AltRed Different

• AltRed is a 25% betalain extract. In comparison, typical beetroot supplements have 1% or less betalains. 
• AltRed works to allow the aerobic system to function optimally and is designed to help athletes break through training plateaus and improve recovery between workouts.
• Betalains have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. 
• The use of our proprietary extraction technology increases the bioavailability of betalains in AltRed compared to betalains found in beets or other natural sources by removing nitrates and sugars. 
• By separating out and removing the nitrates and sugar, AltRed betalains bioavailability is 1,000% higher than could be achieved by consuming fresh beets, beet juices, or beetroot powders.
• Unlike other sports nutrition products that are designed to fuel your working muscles, or help to keep you hydrated, AltRed works to allow your aerobic system to function at its optimal level.
• Scientific studies in athletes using AltRed have resulted in faster times, decreased perceived exertion, increased watt output, increased exercise efficiency, reduced exercise-induced muscle damage, and decreased lactate acid production.

 

AltRed Versus Beet Supplements

Feature	AltRed	Traditional Beet Supplements
Performance Benefits	Improves oxygen efficiency, reduces muscle soreness, supports faster and longer-lasting recovery	Increases nitric oxide production for better blood flow
Digestive Tolerance	Gentle on the stomach, no excess fiber or sugars	Can cause bloating or stomach discomfort
Certification	NSF Certified for Sport® and Informed Sport	Often not third-party tested
Convenience	Easy-to-take capsules (that are half the size of typical capsules)	Powders, juices, or whole beets required
Target Athlete	Endurance athletes seeking performance and recovery	Athletes looking mainly for cardiovascular support

The Power of Betalains

What exactly are betalains? Betalains are phytochemicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that through our extraction process become bioavailable, or highly available to the body. In the form of AltRed, betalains have actions in the body that improve performance and promote recovery. 

While beet or beetroot has been sought after by athletes for its potential to improve performance, our scientific research has led us to formulate AltRed to be 1000% more available than betalains from beet products (Van Hoorbeke). This is achieved in our extraction process that removes both nitrates and sugar-- two components of native betalains found in beets products that make them less available. In addition, AltRed betalains have been found to be powerful in stimulating the formation of a unique form of nitric oxide, HbNO, within the body itself. This unique form promotes vasodilation, or widening of the blood vessels, resulting in increased blood flow to the muscles during exercise while reducing oxidative muscle damage (Lundberg). HbNO is a long-lived form of nitric oxide and lasts in the body 10,000 times longer than a nitric oxide (NO) molecule. (Helms) 

What the Science Says for Performance and Recovery

At Sur PhytoPerformance our goal is to help active individuals not only take their training and performance to the next level, but also optimize their recovery between workouts. Because of this, we have conducted three double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials-- the gold standard in research. We focused our research to look specifically at trained athletes who participated in running, cycling, and triathlon. Here is what the results showed:

Faster 5k times:

A study at UC Davis found that competitive distance runners performed an average of 3% faster in a 5km time trial when they used AltRed. In addition to the time improvement, runners using AltRed also saw a 15% lower RPE (rate of perceived exertion). (Van Hoorbeeke)

Another study at UC Davis looked at the 5km time trial performance in triathletes. The triathletes using AltRed reported average times that were 3% faster than the control group. The 5km in this study was performed 24 hours after a 10k time trial for both study groups demonstrating improved performance and recovery in the athletes receiving AltRed. (Montenegro)

More average watts and improved cycling efficiency:

Researchers at Auburn University studied the effects of AltRed on cycling performance. In comparison to the placebo group, those receiving AltRed saw an average watt increase of 3.5% during a 30 minute functional threshold power (FTP) test. In addition to an increase in watts, there was an average increase of 5.4% in cycling efficiency. (Mumford)

Reduce exercise-induced muscle damage:

In addition to improved 5k performance in triathletes, Montenegro et. al found that blood levels of a key indicator of muscle damage, Creatine Kinase (CK), was 9% lower with AltRed. CK is an enzyme found mainly in the muscles that is released when there is muscle damage. Chronically elevated levels of CK can lead to muscle fatigue, injury and decreased performance. (Coutts)

Reduced blood lactate concentration:

An athlete’s ability to recover from workouts is equally as important as their performance. Van Hoorbeeke et. al found a 14% reduction in blood lactate levels in the runners receiving AltRed post 5k time trial, indicating improved recovery in comparison to the control group.

 

Better Than Beets

Based on extensive scientific research, we’ve formulated AltRed to be more impactful on performance and recovery than beetroot alone. AltRed is a 25% betalain extract made from non-GMO red beets sourced from US farms. By comparison, the typical beetroot supplement contains 1% or less betalains. In addition to this, our proprietary extraction technology increases the bioavailability, or how much is absorbed by the body, of betalains by 1,000%. This amount cannot be matched by consuming fresh beets, beet juices, or beetroot powders.

Beyond our powerful proprietary extract, Sur Phytoperformance continues to be focused on bringing you clean, plant-based nutrients. As an athlete, you can rest assured that our products meet third party certification requirements by NSF Certified for Sport and Informed Sport. AltRed also contains no sugar, caffeine, or other added stimulants. We have also begun to transition from gelatin capsules to our new vegan capsule. 

 

How to Use AltRed in Your Training

To get the greatest benefit we recommend taking one capsule one to two hours prior to exercise. It can be taken on a full or empty stomach. If you’re exercising for longer than two hours continue to take one capsule every two hours until you finish your workout. As with any supplement, if you have a medical condition or take regular medications we recommend consulting with your healthcare provider prior to using AltRed. 

Still unsure of what to expect when taking AltRed? Generally, an athlete taking AltRed should notice the ability to sustain activities beyond their usual limit. You may also notice improved recovery with fresher legs and less soreness. Wherever your fitness takes you, AltRed can help take your performance and recovery to the next level.

References:

1. Van Hoorebeke JS, Trias CO, Davis BA, Lozada CF, Casazza GA. Betalain-Rich Concentrate Supplementation Improves Exercise Performance in Competitive Runners. Sports (Basel). 2016;4(3):40. Published 2016 Jul 25. doi:10.3390/sports4030040
   
   
2. Montenegro CF, Kwong DA, Minow ZA, Davis BA, Lozada CF, Casazza GA. Betalain-rich concentrate supplementation improves exercise performance and recovery in competitive triathletes. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2017 Feb;42(2):166-172. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2016-0452. Epub 2016 Oct 14. PMID: 28121183.
   
   
3. Mumford, P.W., Kephart, W.C., Romero, M.A. et al. Effect of 1-week betalain-rich beetroot concentrate supplementation on cycling performance and select physiological parameters. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 2465–2476 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3973-1/
   
   
4. Coutts A, Reaburn P, Piva TJ, Murphy A. Changes in selected biochemical, muscular strength, power, and endurance measures during deliberate overreaching and tapering in rugby league players. Int J Sports Med. 2007 Feb;28(2):116-24. doi: 10.1055/s-2006-924145. Epub 2006 Jul 11. PMID: 16835824.
   
   
5. Helms C, Kim-Shapiro DB. Hemoglobin-mediated nitric oxide signaling. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 2013;61:464-472. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2013.04.028. 
   
   
6. Lundberg JO, Weitzberg E, Gladwin MT. The nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway in physiology and therapeutics. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2008;7(2):156-167. doi:10.1038/nrd2466