Unwashed and unpeeled beetroot looks like an unsightly root that does not look as tempting as vegetables like red peppers or carrots. Its lovers do not need an incentive to include this healthy food in their diet, but for those who do not really like it, we bring a reminder why the love for it should start as soon as possible and last as long as possible.
This root vegetable can easily be called a superfood.
Beetroot is unique due to its high content of anticancer substances and carotenoids. And this vegetable is also an excellent source of folic acid and is full of antioxidants, which protect the body from premature aging and help fight many diseases.
Betacyanin is the pigment that gives beets their red color. This pigment is absorbed into the blood and increases its ability to carry oxygen by up to 400 percent.
Buy fresh
When buying beets, choose smaller and harder heads, and avoid those that are visibly damaged and dry. If these root vegetables are sold with decaying leaves, pay attention to their freshness and reach for the pieces that come with firm and crunchy leaves.
Cook in the crust
Beets should be cooked and baked in their skins in order to retain as many nutrients as possible. On the other hand, heat treatment of peeled beets will transform its beautiful color into an unattractive brown piece of vegetable.
Leave two to three centimeters of the stem before you start cooking, so that the red color does not "leak" from the top of the fruit. You will keep the color if you spray the beets with lemon juice, vinegar or some similar natural source of acid.
Medicinal properties of beets
*Beets are a traditional remedy for leukemia. This vegetable contains the amino acid betaine, which has anticancer properties. Beetroot therapy, which involves daily consumption of beetroot juice or raw grated beetroot, has a positive effect against leukemia and many other types of cancer.
*Regular consumption of beets helps fight diseases caused by oxidative stress.
*The fiber contained in beets can reduce blood cholesterol levels by up to 40 percent.
*Beets are known to normalize blood pressure.
*Beets help preserve the elasticity of arteries. Regular consumption of beets can prevent varicose veins.
*Although the amount of iron contained in beets is not very high, the quality is outstanding. Iron from beets is a powerful tool for cleansing the body of toxins and building blood. This is precisely why beets are effective in the treatment of many diseases caused by toxins.
*Beets are especially recommended for pregnant women due to their high folic acid content. Folic acid can prevent many diseases in newborns.
*Beetroot juice stimulates the work of the liver and bile and prevents constipation.
*Beetroot juice in combination with carrot juice is an excellent remedy for gout, kidney and gall bladder diseases.
* It is known that beets can also help with many other diseases: headache, toothache, dysentery, lower back pain, skin problems, menstrual pain, etc.
Beetroot leaves:
Do not throw away the beetroot leaves. It is rich in beta-carotene, folic acid, chlorophyll, potassium, vitamin C and iron. You can make green mushy juice from beetroot leaves or prepare it like spinach. By consuming beetroot leaves, we can act on the preservation of vision, and on personal mood, because it contains the amino acid tryptophan, which participates in the construction of serotonin, which improves mood.
The leaves of some types of beetroot are particularly decorative and can refresh even the "gloomiest" plate.
Nutritional value in 100 g of beets:
Energy value kcal: 36
Total carbohydrates g: 7
Protein g: 2
Dietary fiber g: 2,6
Vitamin B1 mg: 0,02
Vitamin B2 mg: 0,03
Vitamin B3 mg: 0,1
Vitamin B6 mg: 0,04
Vitamin C mg: 2
Phosphorus mg: 40
Sodium mg: 100
Calcium mg: 30
Potassium mg: 400
Iron mg: 1
Water g: 89
Unintended consequences?
Beets are definitely a healthy food, but do not overdo it, as it is suspected that excessive intake could cause the accumulation of harmful metals in the body. Excessive intake can also harm people with weak kidneys, because beets contain oxalates, which can form kidney stones.
One deciliter (or half a glass) of beetroot juice per day is quite enough to feel all its benefits.
If you notice dark urine or stool after beetroot, don't worry. This is a common occurrence, because the betanin pigment fails to break down in the body, reports Nezavisne.
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