In fact, beet health benefits are so many that it would be difficult to list them all in one article. I mean, they are a powerhouse of magnesium, iron, vitamin C, antioxidants and so many other minerals and nutrients! From your head down to your toe, there’s not a single part of your body that does not benefit from beets.
Beets Health Benefits
Prevent cataracts
A form of vitamin A known as beta-carotene is a well-known agent that helps in slowing down and even sometimes completely preventing people from going blind due to old age. Generally speaking, most people’s eyesight gets poorer with age, and some can even get cataract. However, beta-carotene fights against this, and guess which veggie has a high amount of beta-carotene? That’s right – beetroots.
Aid in digestion
Beetroots have high fiber content, which is why they’re often used as a 100% natural solution to problems like constipation. And even if you’re not constipated, eating beets on a regular basis ensures that your digestive tract will be as healthy as it can be.
Prevent specific cancers
Please do understand that even though there’s no definitive proof to support this theory, several independent researches and studies have shown that to a great degree, regular consumption of beetroots can help deal with cancers of the lung, colon or skin from growing or spreading. A pigment called betacyanins, present in all beetroots, helps slow down or sometimes even eliminate the growth of mutated cancer cells. The best part is that these betacyanins aren’t lost if you juice the beets, cook them or eat them raw! Talk about great beets health benefits!
Detoxify your body
If you’re on a detox drive or simply want to rid your body of toxins once every few days, then how about having a glass of beet juice? The betalin pigments in beets help in easily breaking down toxins in your body, thus making it easier for your body to excrete them without any problem.
Keep your blood pressure in check
The nitrates in beetroots are converted by your body into nitric oxide, which is known to improve your blood flow by dilating blood vessels. Drinking beet juice can bring down your BP just within a couple of hours!
Benefit your heart
The fiber content in beet helps bring down the "bad" cholesterol in your body by increasing the "good" cholesterol levels. Betaine, also found in beets, is known to reduce your body’s levels of homocysteine, which is known to be harmful for various blood vessels. Thus, you are immediately less likely to suffer from strokes, heart attacks or medical conditions like atherosclerosis.
Increase oxygen supply
The high nitrate content also helps improve the circulation of oxygen to your body. In fact, studies have shown that your O2 intake levels can rise by as much as 15% in a totally natural way. No amount of exercising, waking up early or even eating healthy will improve your O2 levels as much as one glass of beetroot juice can!
Improve your stamina
Wanna another beets health benefits? Here it is. If you’re looking for an instant boost of energy, throw those chemical energy drinks away and instead, drink a glass or two of beetroot juice! As already explained above, beets instantly improve not only the levels of oxygen your body can produce but also the supply of oxygen in your blood stream, which eventually leads to your brain. And simply put, the more oxygen your brain has, the better it’s able to function!
Control diabetes
Alpha-lipoic acid, an antioxidant present in beets, helps improve you insulin sensitivity and decreases your glucose levels, which help soothe your diabetes.
Fight inflammation
Beetroots happen to be rich in betaine, a nutrient helping protect cells from environmental stress, which helps fight inflammation. Not to mention how beets immediately improve your body’s performance, reduce your vascular risks and protect your organs from damages at the same time.
Boost immunity
Beets are super rich in vitamin C, which is a necessary nutrient when it comes to increasing your white blood cell count. In case you didn’t know, it’s your WBCs or white blood cells that help your body fight against external and internal infections, making them your body’s primary line of defense. Right from fighting bacterial infection to killing cancerous cells – beetroots do it all for you.
Things to Keep in Mind
Are pickled beets equally nutritious?
Are they as good for you as raw or juiced beets? Long answer short: yes. Pickled beets retain their nutritious properties, but you have to keep in mind that when pickled, beets will tend to absorb a lot of oil, carbs and preservatives. So it’s best to pickle them at home.
If you have stones, then avoid beets
That’s because beetroots contain oxalates, which act as a catalyst when crystallizing minerals in your body, making them turn into stones. You can consume beets only in little to moderate quantities.
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