The marginal gain that can help you beet (!?) your personal best

Written by Stuart Haden on September 13, 2017

Flow is sometimes referred to as the most addictive (natural) state on the planet. If there was a pill we could pop that quickly engineered flow then we’d all be taking it. Of course there isn’t, instead we have to train from the inside out. But over time we can develop our flow fitness. An awareness of flow and how to enter (and exit) these states with relative ease. Amassing the marginal gains of meditation, exercise and gratitude to name but a few.

For many of us these marginal gains need to be easy to access and free (or provide value for money). As a former semi-professional athlete I no longer want to beat the competition day in day out. But I do want to optimise my performance on a daily basis. Which is why drink a glass of Beet Juice most mornings.

The key is in the nitrates that are found in beetroot. Nitrates in the juice interact with enzymes in saliva to generate nitric oxide (NO) in the blood system. NO is a vasodilator (widening of blood vessels) that can increase the flow of blood and oxygen to the muscles, thereby boosting strength and endurance. It’s cheap (a 1 litre carton lasts me all week) and it’s readily available (from the major supermarkets) in the UK. For a sports drink I mix it with water and salt. Are you ready to beet your personal best!?