Could  Raw Beet, Arugula, Rhubarb Salad improve your running? I am not sure, but at the very least it is  delicious.  Beets are getting a lot of attention because they might help exercise performance. At least one study finds eating 200 grams ( about 2 cups)  of beets an hour before running improves performance, it is believed it is  the natural nitrate -rich content  that improves exercise capacity. Nitrate is linked with beneficial health effects such as improving exercise performance and lowering blood pressure but when used as a preservative in processed meats such as sausage and bacon it has  been linked with cancer.  The paradox of nitrates being both harmful and beneficial makes it wise for those looking for an exercise boost from nitrates to get it from whole vegetables not nitrate additives. According to a recent SCAN conference I attended beets are not the only vegetables rich in nitrate. Arugula and Rhubarb carry even greater concentration of nitrate here are the comparisons from a presentation by Steven R. Hertzler , PhD at that conference :  Arugula ( 4679 mg/kg), Rhubarb ( 2,943 mg/kg), Beets ( 1,852 mg/kg) .

The Raw Beet, Arugula, Rhubarb Salad  is adapted from a  recipe   that appeared in the Wall Street Journal,   besides being packed with fiber, and potassium, who knows maybe it could even help your running performance.

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