Research shows beetroot helps reduce soreness after intense exercises

Throw away your protein bars, beetroot is the new superfood that could be a great post-gym snack.

While the root vegetable has many claimed benefits for the body and brain, research shows that it also helps muscles recover after intense exercise.

Scientists at the University of Northumbria conducted research with 30 physically active men between the ages of 18 and 28, who work out at least twice a week.

The experiment required the men to do 100 intensive jump exercises. As the exercises were intense, they caused muscle damage in their legs.

Over the next three days, the men were required to drink either 250ml beetroot juice, 125ml beetroot juice or a placebo. The placebo had the same calories and carbohydrate content as beetroot juice.

Dr Tom Clifford, who led the study, said in a report to the Daily Mail, "Three days of consuming the higher beetroot juice dose enhanced participants’ recovery."

He also added that those in the beetroot juice group jumped an average of 18 per cent higher than those in the placebo group two days after completing the exercise bout.

"Both beetroot groups saw reduced soreness and the food could be useful for those with little time between exercise sessions", he said.