There are an amazing amount of health properties of beets. Best of all, these delicious vegetables are easy to put on the table because they are so versatile.
Variety of Health Properties of Beets
Beets are one of the most nutrient rich vegetables available. Because they are such a powerful cleanser of the body they should be eaten in moderation.
Calcium
Calcium is an important mineral that is used for bone development. It is important, especially for women, to get the recommended amounts of calcium in the diet every day. Other important ways the body uses calcium are:
- Strengthens teeth
- Regulates blood pressure
- Regulates muscle contractions
- Helps blood clot properly
- Keeps the walls of the blood vessels from breaking
Vitamin A
Vitamin A helps keep the immune system strong and healthy.
- Keeps the skin and mucus membranes healthy
- Helps to fight bacteria and viruses in the respiratory tract
- Keep the cells in the eyes healthy and the vision clear
- Immune system function
- Increases white blood cell activity
Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-6 is has an important part in processing the amino acids of the body as well as maintaining a healthy neurological system.
- Aids in the formation of neurotransmitters
- Helps elevate mood
- Lowers homo-cysteine levels which helps prevent
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- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Osteoporosis
- Needed to make:
- Serotonin
- Melatonin
- Dopamine
Iron
Iron is an important part of a healthy body and especially a healthy circulatory system. This mineral helps the blood transport oxygen to the cells to keep them healthy and working properly.
Potassium
Potassium helps to regulate the blood pressure as well as helping maintain muscle and nerve activity. Other important functions of potassium are:
- Control water balance in the cells
- Regulate heartbeat
- Fight depression
- Keeps muscles from cramping during workouts
Choline
Choline is an important part of brain function. It helps strengthen the memory, regulate sleep, and is vital in the thinking process.Other things that choline does is:
- Emulsify fats in the body
- Maintains the health of the mucus membranes
- Believed to increase intelligence of developing baby
- Protects the body against:
- Liver damage
- Cancer
- Alzheimers
- Asthma
- Inflammation
Other Nutrients
In addition the nutrients listed above beets also contain the following:
- Copper
- Folate
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Tryptophan
- Vitamin C
Beets Help Treat Illness
Beets are used to detoxify the body. They are most nutritious when eater raw or used as a beet juice, but they are high in nutrients in any form.
Some of the illnesses and health problems that beets have traditionally been used to treat are:
- Anemia
- Bladder problems
- Circulation
- Exhaustion
- Menstrual problems
- May slow the growth of tumors
- Protect against birth defects
Adding Beets to Your Diet
Beets are usually not a favorite food. The much maligned beet is too often boiled to tasteless oblivion, over salted, or used when it is old. Beets can be delicious when they are fresh and cooked correctly.
Fresh
Always look for firm beets with a shiny skin underneath the clinging dirt. The beet leaves, or greens, should be fresh looking as well, not wilted. Fresh beets are easy to cook. The flavor and nutritional value of fresh beets are much better than canned beets as well.
Roasting Beets
Beets are naturally sweet and the sweetness is intensified when they are roasted. If you haven't liked beets try roasting rather than boiling. It is easy and changes the flavor completely. Just peel the beets with a vegetable peeler and trim off all but about one inch of the leaves. Cut large beets in fourths or leave small beets intact. Drizzle them with olive oil and place in a 400F oven until they are done, about twenty minutes. Keep an eye on them so they don't burn.
The health properties of beets are a good reason to eat them another good reason to eat them is that they are just so good. Adding beets (cooked, raw, or in juice) to your diet a couple of times a week can make a difference in your energy level and overall health.
