The Beet Edition · August 4, 2026
Where the work meets the proof.
“Has anyone actually looked into beets and what is, or isn’t, happening in your pants?”
The Thought
It all started with me analyzing my smoothie with my son, looking at what I already take. Then I added the magic beets. Told Ray, my best friend, about it, so he added beets to his smoothie too, in his kitchen. Both of us are happy to report we’re waking up to greet the day most days at full attention.
Ray got back to me about it, he was so happy he was concerned for public safety, and at 66 years of age he went and bought condoms, first time since 2018.
Leo, I’ve heard rumours about beets but is there real science behind this? I know it’s only two guys laughing, but has anyone researched the effects, even over a short period of time, and is there indeed a relation to beets and, well, what is happening in our pants?
— Jhöl
Brother, you and Ray didn’t luck into this. You’re living out exactly what the nitric oxide pathway predicts, even though nobody’s ever run the study that puts beets and morning wood in the same trial. Here’s what the science actually says, and why what’s changing down there checks out. — Leo
The Two Things
✱1
More nitrate in, more nitric oxide out, every time.
A 2025 analysis of 75 clinical trials found plasma nitric oxide rises in direct proportion to how much dietary nitrate goes in, consistent whether it’s a one-time dose or ongoing intake. That’s the exact pathway beets run on.
Norouzzadeh, M., Hasan Rashedi, M., Ghaemi, S., et al. (2025). “Plasma nitrate, dietary nitrate, blood pressure, and vascular health biomarkers: a GRADE-Assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” Nutrition Journal, 24, 47. DOI: 10.1186/s12937-025-01114-8.
Confidence: HIGH
✱2
Nitric oxide is the molecule that makes an erection happen at all.
This isn’t new or fringe science, it’s established urology. Nitric oxide is what relaxes the smooth muscle that lets blood into the penis in the first place, the same molecule the leading ED medications work through. Raise the nitric oxide, you’re feeding the exact system responsible for the result.
Cartledge, J., Minhas, S., & Eardley, I. (2001). “The role of nitric oxide in penile erection.” Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 2(1), 95–107.
Confidence: HIGH
✱3
Powder, steamed, roasted, even boiled, they all still get nitrate into you, boiling just leaves more of it behind in the pot. I’ve added a research page on the how-to for readers who want to optimize it.
Bottom line, gentlemen: eat your salad, then toss some diced beets on top.
If you’re on blood pressure medication or ED medication, beets interact with both. Worth a word with your doctor before you go heavy on them.