Beets (Beta vulgaris), also known as blood turnips, are one of the world’s healthiest vegetables – offering a range of incredible health benefits, thanks to their combination of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Here are some of the science-backed benefits of beet juice that promote optimal health.

Prevents nutrient deficiency

Medical News Today reported that a 100-milliliter serving of organic beet or beetroot juice (equivalent to a small glass) contains calories, no fat, protein, carbohydrates, sugar and fiber. Beet juice also contains antioxidants, which reduce oxidative stress. Drinking this vegetable juice regularly can help prevent deficiencies in these nutrients.

Beetroots are a rich source of essential vitamins and minerals, including:

Folate – important for DNA and cell health

Vitamin A – essential for growth and development and vital for cell recognition, immune function, reproduction and vision

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) – supports metabolism and red blood cell production

Vitamin C – an antioxidant like folate that helps prevent damage from free radicals from the inside out and known to support healthy skin

Calcium – essential for bone growth and strength

Copper – plays a role in making collagen, maintaining bones and blood vessels and supporting immune function

Iron – allows red blood cells to carry oxygen

Magnesium – supports heart, immune, muscle and nerve health

Manganese – contributes to the regulation of metabolism and blood sugar levels

Phosphorus – essential for bones, teeth and cell repair

Zinc – promotes wound healing, supports the immune system and encourages normal growth

Beetroots also contain other beneficial compounds, including:

Phytochemicals – give plants their color and flavor and also stimulates the immune system, minimize inflammation and reduce oxidative stress

Betalains – pigments responsible for the deep red color of beetroots and which have been found to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitoxic properties

Nitrates – a group of organic compounds that encourage the production of nitric oxide, which plays a role in regulating blood pressure, supporting cardiovascular health, producing mitochondria, transporting calcium, reducing oxidative stress and repairing skeletal muscle.

Supports immune health

Beet juice is packed with vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C and zinc, which are great for boosting your immune system – especially during periods of high stress.

Stress can wreak havoc on your immune system and impair your body’s ability to produce nitric oxide, leading to increased susceptibility to viral respiratory infections, exacerbation of symptoms and more sick days.

Supports cardiovascular health

A study funded by the British Heart Foundation and presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester indicated that a regular glass of beetroot juice can reduce signs of inflammation in blood vessels that are known to be increased in people with coronary heart disease.

A study published in the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine indicated that ingestion of high dietary nitrate in the form of beetroot juice showed anti-hypertensive effects in humans as exhibited by increased levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate, which protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury – an inflammatory response that causes further damage to viable tissue around the infarct (an area of necrosis in a tissue or organ).

Supports muscle health

A randomized, crossover study conducted by researchers from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, together with researchers from the University of Queensland, Australia and the United States National Institutes of Health indicated that consuming dietary nitrates before exercise can enhance the amount of force that quadriceps muscles can produce.

Study authors reported that during exercise, participants experienced about a seven percent increase in muscle torque or strength, compared to those who consumed the placebo. Results of the study appeared in the journal Acta Physiologica.

Supports healthy cognitive functions

A study published in the Journal of Gerontology indicated that drinking beetroot juice combined with exercise produced brain activity in older adults that resembles that of younger adults. Study authors led by Dr. Daniel Kim-Shapiro explained that beetroot juice supplement works just like exercise, increasing blood flow to the brain, essentially making older brain younger.

Supports healthy liver functions

Beet juice contains antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin B6 and iron, which help protect the liver from inflammation and oxidative stress while enhancing its ability to remove toxins from the body. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of betaine (also called betaine anhydrous or trimethylglycine) helps prevent fatty deposits in the liver. Its antitoxic levels prevent toxic contents to accumulate.

A research article published in the journal Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science reported that the supplementation of beetroot powder in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease for 12 weeks showed a hepatoprotective effect. Results showed improved clinical symptoms, a significant reduction in liver enzymes and lipid profiles, as well as a significant reduction in liver size as compared to controls.

Snack your way to optimal health with dehydrated and freeze-dried beet chips, marinated beets, organic beet juices or concentrated organic freeze-dried beet juice powder. Beetroots can lose some of their nutritional value when they are cooked.

Source:
courtesy of NATURALNEWS

by Olivia Cook

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