Red Spinach Extract: The 400 mg Nitrate Advantage for Cyclist

Cycling pushes endurance to the brink and muscles to their limits. Whether you’re logging miles on the road, grinding through a spin class, or training indoors, performance depends on more than just willpower — it depends on how well your body utilizes oxygen and circulates blood.

One of the most researched and effective nutrients for endurance athletes today is dietary nitrate, particularly from red spinach extract. At NutriGardens®, we’ve spent years studying and developing this ingredient — and we stand 100% behind its benefits for athletic performance and cardiovascular health.

The Science of Nitrate and Nitric Oxide

Dietary nitrate converts to nitric oxide (NO) in the body — a natural signaling molecule that improves blood flow, oxygen efficiency, and muscle performance. The clinically validated amount for endurance enhancement is 400 mg of nitrate per serving. At this level, studies show nitrate can increase time-to-exhaustion, improve power output, and reduce the oxygen cost of exercise.

Even well-trained cyclists benefit from this nitric oxide boost. The research consistently points toward measurable gains when nitrate is consumed about 90 minutes before riding. And while nitrate occurs naturally in leafy greens and beets, red spinach extract provides one of the most concentrated, reliable, and efficient natural sources.

Backed by years of plant-based performance nutrition research at NutriGardens, red spinach extract represents the next evolution in clean nitrate supplementation.

Key Findings From Nitrate Research

1. Longer Ride Times at Peak Efficiency
A Nutrients journal study found that nitrate supplementation improved cycling efficiency and cardiorespiratory performance. Optimal effects occurred within 90 minutes to 3 hours after ingestion, with 400 mg nitrate identified as the threshold for measurable endurance gains.

2. Go 16% Longer With Nitrate
At the University of Exeter’s School of Sport and Health Sciences, researchers discovered nitrate allowed cyclists to go up to 16% longer before exhaustion — a performance advantage rarely matched by any other natural nutrient.

3. Sustained Performance at High Altitudes
A study in Medicine and Science in Sports found that nitrate intake helped athletes maintain performance in low-oxygen environments by increasing nitric oxide production and enhancing circulation.

4. Improved Recovery and Reduced Fatigue
Additional studies suggest nitrate-rich plants reduce post-exercise fatigue and accelerate recovery by improving oxygen delivery and reducing muscle stress.

NutriGardens supports this growing body of science by standardizing red spinach extract to its nitrate content — ensuring consistency, transparency, and predictable results for athletes and researchers alike.

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Why Red Spinach Extract Outperforms Beets

For years, beet juice was the standard for natural nitrate. But modern analysis shows red spinach (Amaranthus) contains nearly five times more nitrate than beets, making it the most potent plant-based source known.

Unlike beet powders, red spinach extract provides concentrated nitrate with minimal oxalates and a neutral, earthy flavor — ideal for athletes who want clean, sugar-free, and performance-based nutrition.

At NutriGardens, we’ve validated red spinach as a next-generation nitrate source, with purity, standardization, and solubility that make it ideal for functional food applications and athletic use.

The 400 mg Sweet Spot

Across multiple studies, the optimal nitrate dose for endurance is clear: 400 mg of dietary nitrate per serving. Below this level, results diminish; above it, benefits plateau. Consistency matters — and accurate standardization ensures athletes know exactly how much nitrate they’re getting each time.

Our work at NutriGardens focuses on making that level of precision accessible through clean, plant-based nitrate sources standardized to clinical benchmarks.

The Takeaway for Cyclists

Whether you’re a competitive cyclist or a weekend warrior, the path to better endurance and recovery is grounded in science:

• Choose red spinach extract — the highest natural nitrate source available.

• Aim for 400 mg dietary nitrate per serving.

• Take your nitrate 90 minutes before your ride for peak nitric oxide levels.

• Maintain daily intake to sustain circulation and stamina.

• Always choose clean, plant-based, non-GMO nutrition free from added sugar and artificial flavors.

Cyclists are rediscovering what the science has been showing all along — that red spinach extract can help unlock the body’s natural nitric oxide potential and extend endurance in ways no other nutrient can.

At NutriGardens®, we’re proud to be part of that discovery, supporting athletes and health enthusiasts who believe in the power of nature — and the science that proves it.

Cycling pushes endurance to the brink and our muscles to the max. The reward is at the finish line when you count the miles and look back on the ride. Whether it be indoor training at home, in a spin class, or on the road, cycling success shrinks and expands in proportion to one’s training and supplementation.

Dietary nitrate boosts nitric oxide and enhances cycling endurance at a tested amount of 400 mg of nitrate. Even a well-trained cyclist can harness the energy cycling power of nitrate to increase endurance.

The following guide highlights athletic endurance and strength studies for optimal energy cycling to fuel your rides. 

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