However, while the vitamins that the beet provides might make a difference for our health, what makes it particularly transformative is the fact that it is an essential source of dietary nitrates. It is here where the real science behind the beet comes into play. What happens when we eat a beet? We trigger a natural process through which the nitrates in the beet are converted into nitrites by natural bacteria in our mouths and stomachs. These are then used by our bodies to create nitric oxide, which is an essential signaling agent for the human cardiovascular system. One thing that nitric oxide does is act as a vasodilator. In simpler terms, this means that it tells the muscles around our blood vessels to relax and open up.