Courtesy The Island

Beetroot is a plant which comes from the same family as sugar beets which are the raw material for producing sugar. However, when compared to their cousin, the beet root is completely different in its nutritional composition as well as taste and colour.

Beetroot is a vegetable that has a very dark red colour. More often than not, it is used in salads to add a bit of exotic colour to the plate. Beetroot juice has also become quite popular, mostly because of the many health benefits of this vegetable which is also described as a power food.

How Does Beetroot Benefit Your Body?

Beetroot has gained popularity off late as a power vegetable mainly because it is said to be natural stamina booster while also helping the body fight against rising sugar levels and obesity. The following are some health benefits of making beetroot a part of your diet.

Beetroot Maintains Blood Pressure and Improves the Heart’s Health

Studies have shown that those who drink beetroot juice on a regular basis are less susceptible to cardiovascular problems. Beetroot also helps in maintaining the blood pressure and does not let it rise up above average.

Beetroot Controls Blood Sugar Levels

Beetroot can also regulate the sugar level in blood with the help of the alpha-lipoic acid present in it. This acid can decrease the glucose level in the blood and also increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin.

Beetroot Promotes Healthy Digestion

Beetroot may not be overburdened with nutrients and minerals but one thing that it is certainly rich in is dietary fibre. Due to this, eating beetroot is sure to promote healthy digestion while eliminating problems like constipation or difficulty in bowel movement.

Beetroot Boosts Up the Energy

Beetroot juice is the drink of choice for professional athletes as it leads to faster oxidation of muscles ultimately meaning that they can work out longer in the field without getting tired.

Beetroot Reduces the Level of LDL or ‘Bad Cholesterol’

The dietary fibre in beetroot is pretty effective for burning down the cholesterol which ultimately results in weight loss and a healthier life.

Beetroot Detoxifies the Body

Like most vegetables, beetroot acts as a great anti-oxidant for the body. The red colour of the beetroot is because of the presence of beta cyanine which is known to be one of the best antioxidants. Moreover, antioxidation does not only cleanse the blood, it also gives you a cleaner and glowing complexion.

Beetroot Reduces Chances of Dementia

Beetroot is said to be extremely healthy for the brain as it promotes blood flow to the upper most organ of our body. Dementia is a neurological disease which can occur as the person’s age increases. However, eating beetroot can reduce the chances of memory loss as it keeps the brain healthy

Beetroot Fights Inflammation

Beetroot is a really unique vegetable which also has properties to fight against inflammation. It protects the skin cells as well as internal organs against environmental risk factors.

Health benefits of the Beetroot Greens

As the name suggests, the beetroot is actually a root, much the same way as an onion or radish. However, the beetroot greens or the leaves are also as nutritious as the main vegetable. These green leaves are also a great source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and minerals like zinc, manganese, potassium, calcium, etc. Most importantly, beet greens are extremely rich in iron, even more so than other green leafy vegetables like spinach or broccoli.

These leafy veggies can easily be cooked much the same way as spinach or even be mixed with some other vegetables in a sort of broth.

Some health benefits of beet green are as follows:

1. The iron and calcium present in the beet greens can help fight against diseases related to the bone structure like osteoporosis. In fact, eating beet greens is extremely healthy for the bones and will also ensure that you do not suffer from joint pains at an early age.

2. The greens also act as a booster to the body’s immune system through production of white blood cells. They strengthen the body from within so as to be able to ward off infections.

3. Beet greens have even been known to be an effective remedy against Alzheimer’s disease.

How to Incorporate Beetroot in Your Diet

Beetroot makes a really popular salad ingredient because of its crunchy texture. It can be cut into slices along with other salad ingredients or it can even be grated and added over the salad to give it an even more colourful look. Grated beetroot can even be added along with coleslaw and used as a filling for your sandwich.

Another popular way of consuming beetroot is in the form of juice. The beets can easily be juiced in your own kitchen and can even be mixed with other fruits like apple or pomegranate.

Beetroot has been a favourite among the Russians for a long time. The famous Russian soup called Borscht is a classic beetroot recipe which you can try at home. If that proves to be too difficult, you can also simply boil the beets and marinate them with other herbs, oils, salad dressings or lemon juice.

Nutritional Benefits of Beetroot

Beetroot is a pretty versatile vegetable which contains a little bit of a lot of vitamins and minerals but does not specifically contain any one particular compound in a large quantity.

Some of the vitamins which beetroot gives to the body are Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B-6, thiamine and riboflavin. Apart from this, beet root also contains trace amounts of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper and manganese. Beetroot also provides trace amounts of carbohydrates, proteins as well as dietary fibre. (Remedyspot.com)

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