Beets are an ancient, prehistoric food that grew naturally
along coastlines in North Africa, Asia, and Europe. Their nutritional value is
kept both raw and cooked.
In ancient times, Hippocrates viewed
beets as a medicinal plant. Throughout centuries beets were used to treat many
diseases. Beets have been used in the
treatment of blood disorders such as iron deficiency – anemia. Beets contain a
lot of iron, of all plant products iron content of the beets is the second to
garlic. And the iodine content of the beets is the second to Kale. Beets not
only provide your body with important nutrients and stimulate your metabolism
but also saturate the body with powerful antioxidants that are prevalent in red
beets.
Although beets have
the highest sugar content of all vegetables, most people can safely eat beet roots
a few times a week (and their greens in unlimited quantities), enjoying not
only their sweet, earthy flavor but also their powerhouse nutrients that may
improve your health in the following ways.
Reasons why you should include beets in your diet :
- Beets contain polyphenols and betalains which reverse the effect of free radical damage and oxidative stress in people.
- Beets contain various vitamins: B complex vitamins, PP which strengthen capillary walls.
- Beets contain a lot of minerals – potassium and folate, which aid in healthy heart; magnesium, which aids in bone health; iron and phosphorus which produce energy; copper, which destroys free radicals; iodine which is involved in the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones, and magnesium.
- Beets contain cobalt which promotes the formation of vitamin B12 (which is synthesized by intestinal microflora. Without this vitamin and folic acid the formation of red blood cells would be impossible.
- Beets rejuvenate our bodies due to folic acid, which contributes to the creation of new cells.
- Beets remove toxins from our bodies due to betalin pigments.
- Beets contain betacyanins, which inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
- Beets improve digestion due to the dietary fiber.
- Beets stimulate metabolism.
- Beets help digest Vitamin D in our bodies.
- Beets help prevent dementia due to high concentration of nitrates which transformed in the mouth into nitrites. Researched have showed that nitrites open up the blood vessels in the body which increases blood flow and helps oxygen to get to to oxygen lacking areas.
- Beets contain pectin which is in greater numbers than in carrots or apples. Pectin deals with excretion of radioactive and heavy metals from the body. In addition, pectin also inhibits the spread of harmful intestinal bacteria and prevents the development of a whole range of diseases.
As you can see beets possess a plethora of medicinal and
healing properties which also include lowering the amount of cholesterol, blood
pressure, strengthening capillary vessels, providing anti-sclerotic effect and
improving brain and live function, and
help improve fat metabolism.
Source : naturalmedicinebox.
