Van der Avoort, Cindy M. T.van Loon, LucHopman, Maria T.Verdijk, Lex B.2025-10-1720180954-300710.1038/s41430-018-0140-zhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14802/25312Increased consumption of dietary nitrate increases plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations, and has been shown to elicit cardio-protective effects and improve exercise performance. Nitrate consumption in the habitual diet is mainly dependent on nitrate-rich vegetables, such as green leafy and root vegetables, with total vegetable consumption accounting for approximately 50–85% of our daily nitrate intake. Whereas ‘supplementation’ with dietary nitrate in research studies has mainly been accomplished through the use of (concentrated) nitrate-rich beetroot juice, dietary strategies focusing on increased intake of nitrate-rich vegetables may represent a similarly effective alternative for increasing dietary nitrate intake and, as such, obtaining the associated cardiovascular health and ergogenic benefits.Journal article2-s2.0-85044210929ControlledPUB0201052038