What Is Beetroot?

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) is a root vegetable native to Europe and North Africa, cultivated for thousands of years as both a food and a traditional botanical. Its distinctive deep red-purple colour comes from betalain pigments — a class of naturally occurring compounds found in very few other plants.

Today beetroot has attracted considerable research interest in sports nutrition and cardiovascular science, particularly because of its naturally occurring dietary nitrate content.

For a detailed look at the science, dosage, preparations and product selection, see our Complete Guide to Beetroot.

Where Does Beetroot Come From?

Beetroot is derived from Beta vulgaris, a plant species that also includes sugar beet, chard and other cultivated varieties. The red-purple table beetroot most commonly eaten today was developed through centuries of cultivation from wild populations native to coastal regions of Europe and North Africa.

Beets have a long history as food plants in Europe and the Mediterranean. Greek and Roman writers described cultivated beets, although the forms eaten in antiquity were not necessarily identical to the modern table beetroot familiar today. Later European food and herbal traditions expanded the use of the root as cultivated varieties developed.

What's Naturally Found in Beetroot?

Beetroot has attracted considerable research interest because of two distinct groups of naturally occurring compounds:

• Dietary nitrates — inorganic nitrates found in high concentrations in beetroot relative to most other vegetables. When consumed, dietary nitrate can be converted to nitrite through bacteria in the mouth, with subsequent pathways contributing to the formation of nitric oxide — an important signalling molecule involved in normal blood-vessel function. This is the mechanism behind much of the modern research interest in beetroot.
• Betalains — the nitrogen-containing pigments responsible for beetroot's deep red-purple colour. Betalains are found in very few plants outside the Caryophyllales order, making beetroot one of the primary dietary sources. There are two types: betacyanins (red-purple) and betaxanthins (yellow-orange). Both have been extensively investigated for their chemical and antioxidant activity.

Beetroot also contains folate, manganese, potassium and vitamin C, along with dietary fibre in its whole-food form.

The concentration of dietary nitrates in beetroot varies considerably depending on growing conditions, soil nitrogen levels, variety and how the beetroot has been processed or stored.

Beetroot in Traditional Use

Beets have a long history as food plants in Europe and the Mediterranean. Greek and Roman writers described cultivated beets, although the forms eaten in antiquity were not necessarily identical to the modern table beetroot familiar today. Later European food and herbal traditions expanded the use of the root as cultivated varieties developed.

These traditional uses predate modern understanding of beetroot's nitrate content and betalain chemistry. Traditional use is best understood as part of beetroot's cultural and food history rather than as evidence that a particular modern beetroot supplement produces specific effects.

Fresh Beetroot, Powder and Capsules

Beetroot is available in several forms, and the preparation matters when comparing products.

Fresh beetroot is a whole food containing the full fibre matrix of the vegetable. Its nitrate content varies considerably between individual roots depending on growing conditions, freshness and storage.

Beetroot powder is produced by drying beetroot and grinding it into a fine powder. Removing much of the water creates a more concentrated and shelf-stable form by weight, although the levels of compounds such as nitrates and betalains can vary according to the raw material and processing method.

Beetroot capsules typically contain beetroot powder in a pre-measured capsule format, offering a convenient way to consume a consistent quantity of powder without the taste or staining of loose beetroot powder.

→ For a detailed comparison of these formats, see: Beetroot Powder vs Fresh Beetroot and Beetroot Capsules vs Beetroot Powder

Why Choose Organic Beetroot?

Beetroot is a root vegetable grown directly in soil. Organic certification provides information about the agricultural standards under which it was produced, including restrictions on the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers.

Our beetroot capsules use certified organic whole beetroot powder, made and packed in Australia.

Beetroot in Our Range

• Pure Earth Energy — Organic Beetroot Powder Capsules — pure organic beetroot in capsule form.
• The Red Surge — Organic Cayenne & Beetroot Capsules — a two-ingredient blend combining beetroot with cayenne.
• The Crimson Current — Cayenne, Beetroot & Hawthorn — a three-ingredient botanical blend.
• Zesty Earth — Beetroot, Orange & Ginger — a three-ingredient blend combining beetroot with orange and ginger.
• The Patchwork Fields — Organic Five Vegetable Capsules — beetroot with broccoli, carrot, tomato and spinach in an equal five-vegetable whole-powder blend.

Further Reading

• The Complete Guide to Beetroot — Nitrates, Betalains, Benefits & How to Choose
• Beetroot Powder vs Fresh Beetroot — What's the Difference?
• Beetroot Capsules vs Beetroot Powder — Which Is Better?
• Acai vs Beetroot — Which Superfood Is Right for You?
• Natural Ways to Support Healthy Blood Flow