Montmorency cherry juice
Long-distance running or biking can wear you out, but research shows drinking tart cherry juice at least five days prior to and 48 hours after a race can speed recovery.
Beet juice
Past studies suggest drinking beet juice before a workout can help people exercise 16 percent longer. Recent research shows the nitrate-rich beverage also widens blood vessels and optimizes the way muscles use oxygen.
Nonalcoholic beer
Chug! In one study published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, marathon runners who drank 2 to 3 pints of nonalcoholic beer per day three weeks before and two weeks after a race experienced significantly less inflammation and respiratory tract illness than those who drank a placebo. Scientists thank the polyphenols—just make sure you don’t opt for the real stuff, which will dehydrate you.
