ROOT OF POWER

If your legs need an extra boost of power, whether to run for the bus, keep up with a Zumba class or just to help climb the stairs, then try eating more beetroot. The purple veg is rich in nitrates, which increase the energy available to muscle cells in the body. A recent study by the University of Exeter found that people who drank whole beetroot juice were able to sprint two per cent faster over 20 metres than those who drank it with the nitrates removed. Previous studies have shown that consuming beetroot can increase stamina, so you can exercise for longer, but this study shows it also helps muscles generate power for short, intense bursts of activity. If you’re not a fan of the vegetable, you could also enhance your nitrate intake with kale, spinach and rocket.