What's The Deal With
Fermented Beets?

Benefits Of Beets

Beets are highly regarded for supporting nitric oxide, improving blood flow and heart health. They are touted for these benefits primarily due to their nitrate content.

Nitrates you eat are turned into nitrite and then into nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide is a powerful signaling molecule that tells your blood veins and arteries to open up in order to allow for greater blood flow.

The benefits of nitrates go far beyond just heart health, though. Healthy nitrates support healthy immune function, improve exercise capability, foster more productive mitochondria, and so much more. Learn more about the benefits of nitric oxide supplements for performance here, and the benefits on general health here.

Unique plant chemicals called polyphenols give beets their vibrant golden and red hues. These plant chemicals also serve as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories.

The antioxidant content of beets alone are enough to make them a top notch superfood. For example, even if you take out the nitrates, beetroot juice still has positive effects on heart health. Betalains and carotenoids are just a couple of the types of antioxidant nutrients you can get from eating more beets.

You have to find a way to get the unique antioxidants and the powerful nitrates in beets, without the negative side of drinking too much beetroot juice.

Limitations Of Beets 

Unfortunately, along with the nitrates and the spectrum of antioxidants, beets also deliver a hefty dose of sugar. When you drink 8 ounces of beet juice you consume over 20 grams of sugar. That’s a lot.

Even though that sugar is natural, it can still carry the same negative effect that refined sugar can. From impairing your metabolism to stiffening connective tissues to increasing risk for chronic conditions, sugar is sugar, and it wreaks havoc on your health.

To make matters worse, beets actually don’t deliver all that much nitrates in the first place. You’re better off with a red leafy vegetable like red spinach or other reds, like rhubarb.

 Adding insult to injury, many supplements are not standardized, meaning you don’t really know how much of those beneficial nutrients you’re getting from those beets.

Think that going with the all-natural version will be beneficial? Think again! It takes 2 to 3 pounds of beets to get the nitrate content of a high-quality nitrate supplement. Nitrate and antioxidant levels vary veggie by veggie, farm to farm, and even lot to lot. Don’t worry, though, we’ve got the solution for you, later in this article.

It goes without saying that any one food can only deliver a incomplete set of antioxidants for any application. Whether it’s for recovery, heart health, or any other of the number of reasons that people use beetroot juice, or beetroot supplement, the additive effect of combining supplements always beets the effect of isolated components.

In short, beets are good, but not enough. Is there something better than beets?

Benefits Of Fermented Beets

With beets high on the list of sugary vegetables and juices, it’s no wonder that people have been finding ways to get the benefits of beets without the sugar.

One way to do just that is to use a high-quality standardized red vegetable extract. We will come back to this.

Now let’s introduce the supplement that’s top of every sports supplement maven’s mind: fermented beet root powder.

By using the age-old process of fermentation, beneficial bacteria eat the sugar content of beets, leaving you with a superior low-sugar beetroot supplement that has a couple of added benefits.

Benefits of fermented beets:

• Low sugar beet alternative
• Supports healthy gut bacteria
• Higher nitrate content per weight than regular beets 
• Provides specific nutrients not found in regular beet supplements
• May be more bioavailable and more digestible

As you can see, the better choice is obvious when faced with the decision between a conventional beet powder or juice versus a fermented beet. The benefits of fermented beetroot are numerous, but is there something even better than fermented beets?

Limitations Of Fermented Beets

With one of the major issues — sugar — taken care of with fermentation, are there other limitations of using fermented beets? Do you need more than just beets?

The same issues that I mentioned before — mainly centering around the fact that you rarely know the dose in your beets or beet supplements — are still present, even despite fermentation.

And then there is the glaring issue that fermented beetroot benefits are good — great! even — but not enough to support complete health.

To take a couple of popular examples:

Beets for blood flow. Yes, nitrates enhance blood flow, but your blood needs a significant number of nutrients from specific foods in the right dose at the right time to fully optimize circulatory health. The right spread of amino acids, getting sufficient vitamin C for your individual needs, and a wealth of other nutrients are critical for heart health.

Beets for performance. Nitrates have been shown to raise the ventilatory threshold, meaning you are able to do more work with relatively less oxygen, but oxygen dynamics are just one piece of the picture. If your car isn’t getting high-octane fuel, then just replacing the oil isn’t going to completely fix the performance. You can’t just use supplements to compensate for a poor diet; just bumping your body’s ability to use oxygen is not enough if you have issues with body mechanics or a poor diet.

Beets for recovery. It’s true that research shows supplemental nitrates can improve recovery time without sacrificing the gains, which allows you to get back to performing at your max sooner. But, there are a number of other science-backed ways to improve recovery too. One example is a high-quality hydrolyzed collagen supplement. In fact, the collagen used in Resync Collagen Peptides is validated by high-quality peer reviewed research to improve recovery from exercise. Additionally the polyphenols and red spinach in Resync are more helpful than beets alone, but even more polyphenols from other red superfoods add to the benefit. Get a full spread of reds for a full recovery boost and your nitric oxide levels!

Aside from the nutritional component, there are many other facets of health. You are what you eat, but you are also more than just what you eat. Emotional, mental, physical, and social health is critical to all of us, not just any high performer. 

Why Resync Might Be A Better Choice Than Fermented Beets.

Beets provide a segment of nutrients essential for health, but the best way to nourish your body takes a combination of ingredients that provide a broad nutritional base.

Beets are important, but only one piece of the puzzle.

That is why Resync uses red spinach in combination with synergistic ingredients like Aronia AND beets - Resync’s signature reds, to take your health to the next level with better-for-you ingredients. In addition, a bioavailable turmeric preparation (that’s a whole other blog in itself), ginger, and mango fruit add to the beneficial effects of the superfood red blend Resync is known for.

 It’s not enough to get just fermented beets, you need the most powerful reds nature offers to optimize your health!

Resync Collagen Peptides also include hydrolyzed collagen protein. Combine the recovery-boosting benefits of beets with synergistic reds with collagen nutritional support for optimal health - from your skin to your bones - and you have a winning combination. Nitric oxide reds with collagen are unbeatable for total body recovery.

Try Resync to uncover the advantage you're giving up without it!

We Want To Hear From You!

If you want more tips, check out Resync’s Youtube videos on beets and collagen.

If you liked this, you’ll definitely like our other articles:

Want the practical details on how to eat and supplement to support your exercise recovery, heart health, beauty, and energy levels? Subscribe to our feed and never miss out!

What we say is backed by research. That’s refreshing in today’s world! When you have the right information, you are empowered to make the right decision, so that’s why we break down complex science into practical takeaways that you can use today. 

If there's something you want to know more about, let us know by contacting us or getting in touch on social media!

Helping you lead a healthier life,

The Resync Team

Disclaimer

This content is for general informational purposes only, and does not constitute the practice of any professional healthcare service, INCLUDING the giving of medical advice. No provider-patient relationship is formed. The use of this information, and the materials linked to this content is at the user's own risk. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should abide by the advice of their healthcare provider, and should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have.

Written by Barbara Depta and registered dietitian, Detrick Snyder, MPH, RDN. Updated on 08/10/2022.