The beet goes on

In 1967, Sonny and Cher sang: “The beat goes on ... La-dee-dadee-de, la-dee-da-dee-da.” If you’re old enough to remember the first time they performed that song, you’re exactly the person who should listen to the following advice and not take a “la-dee-da” attitude toward beets!

We’ve mentioned before that beets (sometimes called beetroot) and beet juice help heart health and provide performance boosts to athletes by increasing levels of artery-relaxing nitric oxide.

Relaxed arteries mean increased blood flow, which means better athletic (and don’t forget sexual) performance. Russian and Eastern European countries’ teams have long treated their top athletes to beet stew/soup/borscht during training sessions and before competitions. American athletes finally picked up on that and have been doing it for a while, too.

But in addition to improved performance, there are many health boosts from beets and beet juice.

The phytonutrients that give beets their deep crimson colour have powerful anti-cancer properties, boost the immune system and help cleanse the liver. And now research has found that for seniors, drinking beet juice before working out may significantly increase exercise’s brain-boosting effects.

A recent study looked at 26 participants, mean age 65, who had a shot of beetroot juice one hour before a moderately intense, 50-minute treadmill workout.

Those folks showed greater connectivity between the somatomotor cortex, a brain region associated with motor function, and the insular cortex, a brain region associated with cognitive functioning.

The researchers said test subjects “had brain networks that more closely resembled those of younger adults.”

La-dee-da-dee-dee!

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. To live your healthiest, tune in to “The Dr. Oz Show” or visit www.sharecare.com.