GC Pre Workout Beet Smoothie
Packed with nutrition – try this smoothie before your next training session.
- 4 Beets – diced and boiled in water (eat beets for dinner the night before) (Do Ahead!!)
- 2 Cups Boiled Beet Juice Water – OR use beet juice
- 1/2 Cup Frozen Strawberries
- 1/2 Cup Frozen Blueberries
- 1 Frozen Banana
- 1 Cup Beet Greens
- 1 Serving Whey Protein
- 1-2 Tbsp Honey/Agave or we used amazing grass berry greens supplement as a sweetener
Do the night before! Either juice beets, buy beet juice or boil 4 diced beets in water to cook, in a medium sauce pan. Eat the beets the night before for dinner. Save the beet water for later.
Add in the beet juice or beet water, strawberries, blueberries, banana, greens, whey protein and sweetener of choice into a blender and blend until combined and smooth.
The Benefits of Beets
Beets have quite a lot to offer when it comes to nutrition. They have something to offer for almost every system in the body AND they have some pretty great benefits for exercise and training as well.
Phytonutrients – the bright colors of beets (red, orange, yellow etc.) means they are packed with anti-inflammatory nutrients. Specifically, beets have a chemical called Betalain, which is a powerful antioxidant (1).
Betalain may help reduce the effects of stress and may have a beneficial impact on lipid peroxidation (cholesterol and heart related conditions)(2).
Some training sessions and high intensity workouts can have a significant stress related impact on the body, musculature and mind. Though beets are often known for their nitric oxide, betalain may also help reduce training and oxidative stress from intense workouts.
Nitric Oxide – Beets are high in dietary nitrates which can have a significant effect on cognition (brain function) and also the cardiopulmonary system.
Nitric oxide helps your arteries and veins contract and expand as needed to pump blood through out the body (3). Beets can help support this system, mainly through their antioxidant capacity(4).
Body Systems:
Detoxification – because of betalain, ascorbic acid, nitrates etc. beets help the detoxification systems in the body through multiple avenues.
First, you need fiber in the gut in order for the liver to have something and somewhere to dump the toxins into to be removed. Your body also uses the ski, and blood which carries it to the kidneys to be excreted through the urine.
Second, through the multiple phases of liver detoxification, the liver needs antioxidants in order to bind and remove the toxins and reactive oxygen species that are created through the detox process.
Fiber – beets are quite high in fiber. Both their green leaves and the beet itself help support the digestive system and detoxification system through fiber.
Fiber adds bulk to the stool, which helps the body rid toxins. It also lowers inflammation in the GI tract.
Recommended Products We Used To Make this Smoothie
- Amazing Grass Green Superfood Powder Supplement in Berry Flavor
- Hammer Nutrition Whey Protein – Use code 247711 for 15% off your first order
Looking for more? – Check out these favorite articles:
- Cooking Oils: Which Ones Should I Use?
- Black Rice Breakfast Porridge
- The Best Green Smoothie I Drink Almost Every Day
