Only 996 more for a representative sample then. Thanks Ian :)

Erm, yeah. What Ian said.

;)

With these things it is always difficult to tease out what effect the juice is having from the natural variation in peoples diets, training schedules, natural abilities etc.  You have to try and distinguish any effect from the effect of normal training, the placebo effect, or variations in diet and nutrition. Hell, even the label you use can affect the outcome - which is why a paracetamol with a trade name is often found to be more effective than a generic one with exactly the same ingredients, even by those who know there is no difference!

To have any chance of pulling the information from the noise, you'd have to have a very large group (for something like this, well over 1000 would be needed, but the more the better), track their fitness levels with some standardised tests, put them all on a standard diet and fitness regime for a few weeks to develop a baseline, re-test their fitness, then randomise them into two groups, one taking a standard sized glass a day of beetroot and one ideally taking the same amount of a coloured and flavoured placebo. You could also include a third group taking carrot juice, or tomato juice, for comparison.  You would have to track compliance (taking it daily, sticking to the fitness regimen), and re-test their fitness at intervals over the trial.  

And even then, you might not get enough of a signal to be able to draw any relevant conclusions! (Can you tell that I've worked managing clinical trial data for over a decade? ;o) 

At the end of the day, with something like this if there is a sound reasoning behind why it might be good for you, and there is no reason that it would be bad for you, then give it a shot. If it works for you, great stuff! If it just turns your pee red, then nothing ventured, I guess.

That said, I'm with the natural brigade on this - everything in moderation, and from a variety of sources :o)

We'll have to compare experiences Derek! The trick is to have enough of the stuff to have a glass a day for an extended period of time I guess. So I already need to get another bottle. A glass a day Mark?

Couldn't resist it, I brought some yesterday as I like beetroot.....its not unpleasent but tastes rather funky. I start singing that Prince song now whilst having a pee.......Purple pee, purple peee.....all I wanna do is see that purple pee.

Right, I've got some and will try it out. First chug today and very nice it was too (but i do like beetroot which clearly helps).

Good for you, Mark.

Literally!

I know the studies seem a little inconclusive but from a personal point of view it has imporved my performance and also it tastes great to me. Holland & Barrett sell as the guys say and also Somerfield. Called Beet It.

My opinion is that people use so many supplements which are an expensive form of nutrition people can easily get through a healthy diet. I would rather enjoy foods/drinks which were more natural. I dont use gels etc for runs.

I tried beetroot juice a while back..and thought it tasted disgusting. YUK all the way !!! Double yuk !!!
...and like Dave said "Holland & Barrett sell it"
YUK !! 

Mmmm. So much academic research is conducted using too small a sample to be statistically representative. I'll take mine with a pinch of salt...

Holland & Barrett sell it, by the way.