Beets come jam-packed with nutrition. Incorporating them in the diet has a lot of benefits. They can be used in different ways to kill off the monotony. They can be consumed not just in raw form but can be cooked as well. Their juice also is very beneficial.
Beets are a rich source of folate, potassium, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, vitamin B6, manganese etc. Alongside being a source of such nutrients, they have a multitude of benefits, making it a necessary element of a healthy diet and the top food recommended by dermatologists.
The salient benefits of beets include;
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Improves blood pressure:
Due to the nitrates present in the beetroot, it works to control and normalize the blood pressure. Nitrates help keep the blood vessel dilated and therefore the pathway for the blood remains smooth. This ensures that the high blood pressure is kept at bay. This, in turn, helps prevent heart diseases and strokes etc. However, the effect is rather temporary. Hence, beets should be consumed regularly.
Improves heart health:
Beets contain plant alkaloid betaine and folate. Both of these chemical helps lower the levels of homocysteine, which in high quantity poses the risk of damaging the arteries and causing heart diseases. Moreover, for people suffering from high blood pressure, beets also reduce their LDL cholesterol levels. Therefore, beets help improve the health of the heart overall as well.
Reduces Inflammation:
Chronic inflammation can occur due to various reasons; whether due to some disease, due to an unhealthy lifestyle or due to dietary factors. Beets contain pigments called betalains which help reduce the inflammation. Beets, therefore, help reduce the pain associated with this condition as well. However, beets in raw form are more efficient as opposed to the cooked form.
Improves Brain Health:
Brain health suffers as a result of reduced circulation to it. Whilst the nitrates in the beets help to improve the overall circulation of the body, they particularly cause an increase in circulation to certain parts of the brain. One of such regions is the frontal lobe which is responsible for important decision making.
This trait of beets is especially useful for aging adults as the body’s ability to generate nitrate oxide- the element keeping the vessels dilated- decreases. Hence, beets provide with the much-needed nitrates. Furthermore, this improved circulation to the brain helps prevent brain diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Improves Athletic performance:
Containing the ever-so-beneficial nitrates in them, beets are immensely useful for athletic activity and performance. The nitrates help improve the circulation in the body, as they are converted to nitric oxide. Furthermore, beets also help improve the efficiency of mitochondria, the body’s powerhouse.
This also increases the endurance of the body, thereby extending the time to exhaustion. This is especially useful for athletes, who are able to perform better without getting exhausted easily.
Improves digestion:
Beets are a good source of fibre, which is a very important component of a healthy diet. Therefore, its consumption helps one keep regular and maintains the overall health of the digestive tract. Problems like constipation and the associated diseases like haemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease and diverticulitis are prevented. Moreover, the fibre in the beets helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart diseases, colon cancer and type II diabetes.
Potential cancer deterrent:
Beets contain antioxidants alongside agents which reduce inflammation, hence it helps prevent cancer. Furthermore, a study has also shown that beets helped reduce the formation of multi-organ tumour. However, the evidence is not conclusive and needs to be subjected to more rigorous forms of research. But, using beets has no harm, therefore incorporating it to prevent the likelihood of getting cancer is rather good too.
Improves Eye Health:
The beet greens contain compounds like lutein and zeaxanthin, which are responsible for improving the health of the eyes. Research has reported them to be the only carotenoids present in the eye lens. They work as anti-oxidant to promote the health of the eyes, and luckily, they are found in the beet greens too!
Improves Liver Function:
Since beets are a rich source of antioxidants, they help the liver in detoxifying the body. Moreover, beets also reduce the accumulation of fat in the liver, therefore improving the health and hence the performance of the liver.
It is very important to consume a diet that reaps maximum benefits to human health. A healthy diet also works to prevent diseases as well. Therefore, it is important to consult professionals who can dispense the best dietary advice with respect to the individual’s needs.
Book an appointment with top nutritionists in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi through oladoc.com, or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT professional for your concerns.
