In college, I took an exercise science class. And the one thing I've retained from it after all these years is that beet juice is good for you.
It might seem like a random thing to remember, but my professor went on and on about the benefits of beet juice.
At the time, I ignored what he said about beetroot juice — I really don't care for beets. Yet after I noticed some of the benefits of drinking pickle juice, I was reminded of what my professor had said five years ago.
I started researching beet juice and learned more and more about how good it can be for you.
Despite my dislike of beets, I knew I had to go through with the experiment. If I could feel even one of the potential benefits, it would be worth it.
So I ordered some beet juice and got started. Here's what happened during the course of seven days.
Benefits Of Beet Juice
Beets are known as superfoods. They're full of natural chemicals called nitrates, which can help blood pressure and blood flow.
According to WebMD, "Beet juice may boost stamina to help you exercise longer, improve blood flow, and help lower blood pressure, some research shows."
Beets are also full of antioxidants, vitamin C, folate, potassium, and fiber.
Other potential benefits of beet juice include slowing the progression of dementia, helping you maintain a healthy weight, preventing cancer, supporting liver health, and reducing cholesterol.
The Experiment
Some websites recommend drinking just a few ounces of beet juice each day, while others recommend drinking up to two full cups of beet juice.
HealthLine says you should start by drinking the juice of just half a small beetroot and ramping up from there.
Natural Living Ideas explains that beet juice is powerful, so you should start with just a small amount and wait for your body to adjust.
Obviously, it wouldn't be possible for me to check my blood pressure or cholesterol daily, but I could try to see if there was any difference in my stamina or exercise potential.
Initial Thoughts
Beet juice is a beautiful, dark red color, but as soon as I opened the bottle I realized just how pungent it is.
I took a whiff, and it smelled earthy and gross. Did I already mention I don't like beets?
I wasn't exactly looking forward to taking my first shot, but I was pleasantly surprised by the pickle juice experiment, so I lifted the shot glass to my mouth and threw it back.
Day 1
As soon as I poured the beetroot juice into my mouth, I regretted it. I wished I could spit it out, but I was committed to the experiment.
Eventually I swallowed the juice, but as you can see from this picture, I clearly didn't enjoy it.
I'd brought myself a salad for lunch, but I was so grossed out by the beet juice that I completely lost my appetite. It took me a full hour to feel hungry, and I ended up having to go buy something less "natural" than my salad.
Day 2
On the second day, I was dreading my lunch break. I knew it meant I would need to drink beet juice.
I was way more prepared on the second day, though. I knew I'd need something to chase the beet juice with, so I grabbed a Starburst candy and chewed it as fast as I could after downing my shot.
It was still gross, but significantly less nauseating than the day before.
Day 3
By the third day of the experiment, I knew I couldn't just do the straight shot anymore.
Before lunch, I ran out to the store and bought myself a cranberry juice. I knew I needed a strong juice to wash down the flavor of the beets.
I decided to mix the beetroot juice with the cranberry juice to see if I could mask the beet flavor. It kind of worked.
Day 4
On the fourth day of the experiment, I again mixed the two juices together.
It still didn't taste good by any means, but it was significantly better than just plain beet juice.
The benefit I was hoping to notice most was the improved stamina — and so far, I wasn't noticing any changes.
Day 5
On the fifth day, I decided to try taking a shot of beet juice again. This time, I'd chase it with some of my leftover cranberry juice.
I was surprised that it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Maybe I was getting more used to the beet juice?
Day 6
By the sixth day, I was more than ready to be done with the experiment.
I wasn't noticing any of the benefits of the juice, and it was still tasting just as gross as it had initially.
Day 7
On the last day of the experiment, I was so distracted by weekend activities that I almost forgot to drink my beet juice.
I actually didn't even remember to take it until after dinner. To make sure it wasn't the last thing I consumed that day, I grabbed some ice cream out of the freezer and took a few bites.
Final Thoughts
After a week of drinking beetroot juice, I was unimpressed. I hated the taste of the juice, and I didn't even notice many benefits. It's possible my stamina got a tiny bit better, but not enough for me to notice any significant change.
Would I drink beet juice again? I seriously doubt it.
Would I recommend it to a friend? Only if you enjoy eating beets, then you might actually like the taste!
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