Vegetables as a dietary source of nitrate

We hypothesize that dietary strategies focusing on increased intake of nitrate rich vegetables lead to a similar increase in plasma nitrate (and nitrite) concentration when compared to beetroot juice supplementation and, as such, may represent a feasible alternative for increasing dietary nitrate intake.

day 1, 4, and 7

Participants will receive 1-wk of dietary guidance in which they will be provided with a sufficient amount of vegetables, representing 400 mg (6.5 mmol) nitrate per serving (i.e. each day), including information about nitrate and nitrate rich recipes. In a randomized cross-over manner, participants will also follow a 1-wk supplementation protocol in which they will ingest 400 mg (6.5 mmol) nitrate per day in the form of concentrated red beetroot juice. Both trials will be separated by a 1-wk washout period.