Beets don’t often make it to the list of popular super foods. However, that doesn’t mean they should be discounted. One study found that beets can help you exercise longer than would have otherwise been possible. Other great health benefits attributed to this humble vegetable include lower blood pressure, detox support, and even brain-boosting anti-depressant assistance.
If you’d rather skip out on preparing this messy red vegetable at home, you can buy a supplement at home with a few clicks of a mouse. However, do you know which supplement is the best buy? If you’re not sure, check out my comparison of two popular beet supplements, BeetElite and SuperBeets, to discover which product would best suit your needs.
The Manufacturer
Most product reviews pit two competing companies against each other. No so with this one. BeetElite and SuperBeets are both made by HumanN.
HumanN, which was originally named Neogenis Laboratories, was founded in 2009 with the goal of creating supplements rich in nitric oxide, a compound that has an outsize impact on cardiovascular health. Dr. Ferid Murad, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for identifying nitric oxide, joined the HumanN company in 2020. HumanN also works with the University of Texas Health Science Center as well as registered dietitians and other healthcare professionals and experts to create top-tier products designed to have a maximum positive impact.
Comparing the Two: How This Review Works
Let’s start by reviewing the contents of each product. I’ll go over the ingredients, flavor, and cost. I’ll then compare product similarities and differences and list pros and cons, so you can see how they rate against each other. At the end, I’ll explain which product is best, and why.
BeetElite
BeetElite is a caffeine-free, all-natural pre-workout supplement. It’s designed to give you an energy boost before you exercise. HumanN boasts that over one hundred collegiate and professional sports team uses BeetElite to improve athletic performance.
The product comes in powder form. You’ll need to mix two scoops (ten grams) of powder with four to six ounces of water or another beverage. HumanN confesses that the powder doesn’t mix easily, so it’s best blended with a smoothie or protein drink if you want an even consistency. A single serving of BeetElite offers the nitric oxide benefits equivalent to eating six beets, a feat even beet lovers would have a hard time mastering.
What are the Ingredients?
Thankfully, BeetElite doesn’t have a long list of incomprehensible ingredients that only an expert can identify. The ingredients in the BeetElite Supplement Package are Non-GMO beetroot powder, fermented Non-GMO beetroot powder, natural black cherry flavor, malic acid, magnesium ascorbate, and stevia leaf extract.
Beetroot Powder
I already touched on the health benefits of beets but to be honest, I just scratched the surface. Beets contain two to three grams of fiber per serving. A cup of beets contains more than one-third of the daily recommended Vitamin B9 intake as well as high levels of vitamin C, manganese, iron, and potassium. Scientists speculate that beets could reduce the risk of bladder cancer and may protect the liver from stress and inflammation, although more research in both fields.
However, it’s the nitric oxide in beets that tends to excite beet supplement users. Nitric oxide prevents accumulation of plaque, which in turn lowers your risk of coronary heart disease. It widens your blood vessels to prevent hypertension and keep blood pressure low. This allows for increased oxygen flow to your heart, giving you the extra energy you need to make it through a grueling workout or sports event.
Why would you need both regular and fermented beetroot powder? Fermented beetroot powder offers all the same health benefits as regular beetroot powder but also includes important probiotics to keep your digestive system in good working order. Fermentation also makes it easy for your body to absorb important nutrients that would otherwise be hard to digest.
Malic Acid
Malic acid works with the natural black cherry flavor to give BeetElite a tart yet pleasant taste. At the same time, it’s also good for dry mouth, skin conditions and can even be used to treat fibromyalgia and fatigue.
Magnesium Ascorbate
If you’ve never heard of magnesium ascorbate, don’t worry. You’re in good company. But you can rest assured that it’s good for you. Magnesium ascorbate is essentially a combination of magnesium with Vitamin C. The two work well together as the Vitamin C helps your body absorb the magnesium.
Most people know that Vitamin C is an incredibly important vitamin as it strengthens the immune system to prevent sickness. However, not many people realize just how important magnesium is. The side effects of magnesium deficiency include depression, headaches, loss of appetite, and fibromyalgia. While there are many foods that are rich in magnesium, some other foods and certain conditions can make it difficult to absorb magnesium even if you do eat magnesium-rich foods.
Stevia Leaf Extract
Stevia is up to 300 times sweeter than sugar but doesn’t contain carbohydrates, making it an ideal option for diabetics and those who want to lose weight. Furthermore, studies indicate that stevia lowers insulin and glucose levels in the body and helps your body manage cholesterol levels.
Taste
While BeetElite has a high average review rating, there are also many who simply can’t stand it. Taste is the most common compliant. The product isn’t sweetened and the beet flavor is still present even though the cherry and malic acid help to make it less intense than it would be otherwise.
Simply put: the taste isn’t all that bad but don’t buy BeetElite for the flavor.
Price
BeetElite doesn’t come cheap. However, most high-quality products don’t. BeetElite is made using 100% non-GMO ingredients and does not contain harmful additives, preservatives, fillers and artificial flavors found in similar products. If you want all healthy ingredients to boost your long-term energy levels and keep your body running smooth and healthy, BeetElite offers good value for the money spent.
SuperBeets
The original SuperBeets container contains the exact same ingredients as BeetElite. However, a close look at the nutrition labels shows a few differences:
- SuperBeets contains two grams of protein per 10 gram serving. BeetElite contains one gram of protein per 10 gram serving
- SuperBeets contains six grams of sugar per 10 gram serving. BeetElite contains seven grams of sugar per 10 gram serving
- SuperBeets contains twenty milligrams of magnesium per 10 gram serving. BeetElite contains 36 milligrams of magnesium per 10 gram serving
- BeetElite contains .28 milligrams of manganese per 10 gram serving. SuperBeets doesn’t list manganese on its nutrition label
- BeetElite has a dark cherry flavor. SuperBeets is available in original apple and dark cherry flavors
- SuperBeets is more expensive than BeetElite
Simply put: BeetElite and the original SuperBeets aren’t all that different from each other. However, HumanN has created a number of specialized BeetElite products that are well worth paying attention to. They cost the same as the original SuperBeets but offer specialized benefits to those who need them.
SuperBeets Energy Plus
SuperBeets Energy Plus contains the same ingredients found in both BeetElite and the original SuperBeets. However, it also comes with two added ingredients. These are grape seed extract and green tea extract. The latter ingredient makes SuperBeets Energy Plus the only SuperBeets product to contain caffeine. With about 80 milligrams of caffeine per 5 gram serving, this product is sure to pack a punch if you need a boost of energy to get through your day. The grape seed extract adds its own nutritional boost as it is known to combat high cholesterol, poor circulation, and injury-induced swelling.
SuperBeets Collagen
As the name implies, this product contains collagen. However, it’s not just any old type of collagen. HumanN uses collagen types one and three, which are the forms of collagen most present in the human body. All collagen peptides are derived solely from grass-fed cows. This product is dairy free, gluten free, keto-friendly and, like all other SuperBeets products, does not contain GMOs. The flavor is a mix of cherry and cranberry.
Collagen is a natural protein that your joints, bones, muscles, and blood rely on to work properly. It also keeps your skin and hair looking good. Generally speaking, collagen production in your body slows down once you hit your 30s, so this could be a good supplement for those who need a protein and energy boost. However, bear in mind that some reviewers have noted that SuperBeets Collagen doesn’t offer the same energy boost afforded by other SuperBeets products.
SuperBeets Immune
SuperBeets Immune is designed to boost immune health. It includes all the regular ingredients found in the original SuperBeets plus an ingredient called Wellmune. Wellmune is made from the cells walls of a particular type of yeast and studies show that it’s a natural immune system booster. Grape seed extracts are included in this package as well, and the product has a cherry/cranberry flavor.
SuperBeets Heart Chews
SuperBeets Heart Chews are different from other SuperBeets products. Instead of a powder that you can add to beverages, you’ll be getting a package with 60 chews. The package should last thirty days as you’re meant to take two chews a day.
SuperBeets Heart Chews contain Non-GMO beetroot powder, malic acid, stevia, as well as grape seed extract. I already covered these ingredients, so I won’t go over them again. However, I would like to talk about the additional ingredients not found in other SuperBeet Products
Tapioca Syrup
Tapioca syrup is a natural sweetener made by fermenting natural tapioca starch. It’s gluten-free, fat-free, and keeps your digestive system running smoothly by loosening bowel movements.
Raw Cane Sugar
Raw cane sugar is typically considered to be a natural sugar; however, researchers note that the chemical composition of raw cane sugar and regular sugar are identical. Eating too much of this type of sweetener can cause weight gain, diabetes, and heart problems. Thankfully, you’re not getting much raw cane sugar from SuperBeet chews; there are only two grams of sugar per chew, and it comes not just from raw cane sugar but also stevia and tapioca syrup. However, the fact that HumanN included raw cane sugar in the mix is disturbing.
Rice Bran
Rice bran has been used to treat high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and eczema. It can reduce the formation of some types of kidney stones and is also rich in the fiber your digestive system needs. However, experts warn that rice bran can interact with certain types of medication. Talk to your doctor if you’re thinking about buying SuperBeets Chews to make sure this product is a safe option for you.
Sunflower Lecithin
Sunflower lecithin is an organic component that gives SuperBeet Chews a soft, moist texture. However, they also offer great health benefits. Sunflower lecithin promotes muscle coordination, mental recall, and is good for your overall nervous system.
Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil is rich in Vitamins E and K. It contains polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat, both of which are good for your system in moderate quantities. Sunflower oil is heart-healthy and there is even evidence that it may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Glycerin
Glycerin is a controversial product. It’s essentially a sugar alcohol that is added to products ranging from SuperBeet Chews to toothpaste to skin care products.
The problem with glycerin is that’s typically made from genetically modified or artificial ingredients. As SuperBeets does not use GMO ingredients, it’s safe to say that the inclusion of glycerin in its product won’t hurt you. However, it doesn’t offer significant health benefits and is most likely added as a preservative and flavor enhancer rather than an additional health food.
Citric Acid
Natural citric acid offers some amazing health benefits. It metabolizes energy, helps your body absorb nutrients from food, and there is evidence that it can stop kidney stone formation. Additionally, citric acid enhances the flavor of SuperBeet Chews, giving them a tart yet pleasant taste.
What’s the Best Option?
SuperBeets and BeetElite both have a lot going for them. However, if you need an energy boost to get you through a regular day, I would recommend BeetElite because it’s practically the same as the original SuperBeets but costs less.
On the other hand, those who need specialized benefits will probably want to buy a specialized SuperBeets product.
The SuperBeets Chews aren’t necessarily better than the powdered SuperBeets containers; in fact, they don’t contain fermented beetroot powder like HumanN’s other beet products.
However, if you really can’t stand adding a powdered beet product to your beverages, then the chews are a palatable alternative that offer a decent energy boost and a number of worthwhile health benefits.
