BEET ROOT - HEALTH BENEFITS

Beet root is a popular salad item. They may be taken raw or taken in the form of juices. It is botanically known as Beta vulgaris belongs the family chenopodioceae . 

Beet root is a native of Europe used by Greeks and Roman thousand years back. Now cultivated all over the world

It is anti anemic, cardiotonic, diuretic, tones liver , cleans constipation, and piles. 

It contains proteins , small amount of fat, fibre, carbohydrates, calcium, sodium, potassium, sulphur, iron, chlorine, nitrates,  iodine, Vit. C, and Vit B complex. Also contain natural sugar

MEDICINAL USES

Reduce blood pressure—According to the British feart foundation eating vegetables rich in nitrates could help reduce blood pressure drastically. This satement was backed up by research done at Queen Mary’s University in the year 2010. The research studied the relationship between beetroot and its effect on one’s blood pressure. Beetroot is a great source of nitrates, which when consumed, is converted to nitrites and a gas called nitric oxides. Both these components help to widen the arteries and lower blood pressure. Researchers also found that having just about 500 grams of beetroot every day reduces a person’s blood pressure in about six hours. Another important effect ofbeetroot was that on consumption, the higher the person’s blood pressure the greater the drop 

2. Prevents plaque formation and reducesbad cholesterol: Beetroot is known to contain large amounts of soluble fibres, flavanoidsand betacyanin. Betacyanin is the compound that gives beetroot its purplish-red colour and is also a powerful antioxidant. It helps reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and does not allow it to deposit on the walls of the artery. This protects the heart from potentialheart attack and  stroke reducing the need for medication.

3.   For pregnant women : Another amazing quality of the root is that it has an abundant supply of folic acid. Folic acid is important for pregnant mums and unborn babies because it is an essential component for the proper formation of the unborn child’s spinal cord, and can protect the child from conditions such as spina bifida (is a congenital disorder where the child’s spinal cord does not form completely and in most cases looks like it has been divided into two at the base). Beetroot also gives mums-to-be that extra energy boost required during pregnancy.

 4. Beats osteoporosis-: Beetroot is packed with mineral silica, an important component for the body to use calcium efficiently. Since calcium makes up our bones and teeth, having a glass of beetroot juice a day could help keep conditions such as osteoporosis and brittle bone disease at bay.

 5. Diabetes- : For all you diabetics out there, fulfil your sweet craving with a little beetroot. Since it contains sugars, is fat free, low in calories and has a medium glycaemic index it is just what the doctor ordered. A medium glycaemic index means that it releases sugars very slowly into the blood. This property helps keep a person’s blood sugar levels low while satiating that sugar craving.

6.  Anaemia: It is a common myth that because beetroot is reddish in colour, it replaces lost blood and is therefore good to treatanaemia. While this may sound a bit outrageous to many, there is a partial truth hidden in the myth. Beetroot contains a lot of iron. Iron helps in the formation of haemagglutinin, which is a part of the blood that helps transport oxygen and nutrients to various parts of the body. It is the iron content and not the colour that helps treat anaemia.

 7. Helps relieve fatigue: A study presented at the American Diabetics association’s conference stated that beetroot helps boost a person’s energy. They said that due to its nitrate content it helped dilate the arteries thereby helping in the proper transportation of oxygen to various parts of the body, increasing a person’s energy. Another theory was that because the root is a rich source of iron, it helps in improving a person’s stamina. Whatever the source, a pick-me-up at the end of a tiring day can be just what one needs.

8. Improves sexual health : Also known as ‘natural Viagra’, beetroot has been commonly used in a number of ancient customs to boost one’s sexual health.  Since the vegetable is a rich source of nitrates it helps release nitric oxide into the body, widening the blood vessels, and increasing blood flow to the genitals – a mechanism that medicines like Viagra seek to replicate. Another factor is thatbeetroot contains a lot of boron, a chemical compound that is important for the production of the human sex hormone. So the next time, ditch the blue pill and have some beetroot juice instead.

9. Protects you from cancer:  The betacyanin content in beetroot has another very important function. In a study done at the Howard University, Washington DC, it was found that betacyanin helped slow the growth of tumours by 12.5 percent in patients with breast and prostate cancer. ^##  This effect not only helps in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers but it also helps cancer survivors remain cancer-free longer.

10. Constipation : Because of its high soluble fibre content beetroot is a great laxative. It cleanses the colon and clears out the stomach helping in regularising one’s bowel movements.There by it prevents piles.

11Boosts brain power and may treat dementia: A study performed by the University of Exeter, UK, showed that drinking beetroot juice could increase a person’s stamina by 16 percent, because of its nitrate content. Known to increase the oxygen uptake by the body, the study also found that because of this one factor, it could also help in the proper functioning of the brain and beat the onset of dementia. It has also been seen that nitrate when converted to nitrite helps in the better transmission of neural impulses, making the brain work better.

12.  12. Kidney and gall bladder- Kidney and gall bladder disorders beet root juice along with the juice of carrot and cucumber act as a cleansing material for kidney and gall bladder