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Table varieties of beets are a food product known to almost every inhabitant, traditionally used to prepare all kinds of everyday or festive dishes. This vegetable of characteristic burgundy color gives the dishes a peculiar taste and certain useful properties. The benefits and harms of beets for the health of people of different ages have long been known, it can serve not only for nutrition, but also be a good medicine that can be used to treat and prevent certain diseases.
Composition and nutritional value of red beets
There are very few proteins, fats and carbohydrates in red beets, as in other vegetables. For example, 100 g of root vegetables include only 1,5 g of protein, 8,8 g of carbohydrates and 0,1 g of fat. They contain 2,5 g of fiber and 86 g of water, pectin compounds and acids of organic origin are present.
The nutritional value and benefits of table beet lies in the carbohydrates, proteins and fats that enter the body as a result of its use, as well as in the vitamin compounds and mineral elements that it contains.
Vitamin content
Vitamins in red beets are represented by ascorbic acid, beta-carotene and its derivative retinol, nicotinic acid, several compounds from group B (B1, B2, B4, B5, B6, B9), tocopherol, phylloquinone and niacin.
There are also enough macro- and microelements in the vegetable, these are K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, Ph, Cl, B, V, Fe, I, Co, Mn, Cu, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, F, Cr and Zn. From this list, most of all in the vegetable are such elements as potassium, cobalt, manganese, copper, chromium, molybdenum.
How many calories in beets
Like all vegetables, red beets are not very nutritious: raw calories are only 42 kcal. If you boil it, then the calorie content will increase, but only slightly. It is noted that the nutritional value of the boiled root crop is 47 kcal.
What is useful raw beets
The undoubted benefits of raw beets for the body and maintaining health were noted by our ancestors in the past. It was primarily used as an affordable and popular food item, but also as an excellent home remedy that was always on hand. The healing and beneficial properties of raw beets are that it:
- prevents blood diseases resulting from a decrease in hemoglobin concentration;
- rejuvenates all tissues of the body, contributing to the replacement of old, outdated cells with new ones;
- increases appetite, stimulates digestion, enhances intestinal motility;
- removes accumulated toxins and harmful compounds;
- prevents the occurrence and development of tumors (thanks to anthocyanins – coloring substances that give it a characteristic red-burgundy color);
- frees blood vessels from cholesterol accumulations, makes them more elastic, thereby helping to prevent the development or treat atherosclerosis or hypertension that has already appeared;
- enhances potency;
- reduces the severity of menstrual pain in women;
- has unexpressed diuretic and laxative effects;
- anesthetizes and relieves inflammation of various nature.
Raw beetroot increases physical and mental endurance, raises vitality, has a positive effect on visual acuity, helps in the treatment of thyroid pathologies caused by iodine deficiency, and also improves mood, treats mild depression.
Raw, unheated beets are useful for those people who have a severe lack of vitamin C, which causes the gums to become loose and bleed, capillary and even nosebleeds occur. The benefits of beets for the human body are also noted by many nutritionists – they argue that it is able to normalize metabolism, and therefore can be included in diets for gradual weight loss.
Raw beets are also useful for the body because they cleanse the liver, gallbladder and kidneys, and help improve the functioning of these organs. Vegetable substances improve blood composition, prevent blood clots from forming, and lower blood pressure. Due to this, the root crop is useful for those people who have diseases of the heart or circulatory system, the biochemical composition of the blood is disturbed.
There are also such benefits of beets as improving vision, treating inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose and throat, gynecological and metabolic diseases, pathologies of the digestive system. A vegetable is also suitable for the prevention of all these disorders.
What is useful beets for the body
Raw beets in small quantities can be consumed at least every day. The easiest way is to grate a small piece of the root vegetable and eat it just like that, without additional food. So all the vitamins from it are completely preserved, and the result will be maximum.
For men
Raw beets for men are useful because they prevent the development of prostate diseases, such as benign hyperplasia or adenoma. This is especially true for men over 50 years old – at this age, many of them begin to have problems of this kind. Beets contain substances that stop the growth of a tumor or prevent its occurrence. This becomes possible thanks to zinc, which it contains 0,425 mg per 100 g. In addition, beetroot cleanses the blood, removes toxins, which also helps to maintain men’s health. But in order for the beets to work effectively, you need to eat them daily, for which a small root crop is enough.
In addition to characteristic diseases, men are often pursued by cardiovascular diseases. And raw beets will help here. It contains flavonoids and betacyanin, they reduce high blood pressure, relieve spasms, have a strengthening effect on blood vessels, and normalize blood composition. Iodine and organic oleonic acid will help prevent atherosclerosis and strengthen the heart muscle. Niacin has the same effect, it is more in raw beets than in many other vegetables.
For women
For women, raw red beets are of interest to other substances and mineral elements, namely folic acid and valine. Together they stabilize the hormonal background in general and in particular before the onset of menstruation. They help to level such typical symptoms of this condition as mood swings, irritability, dull pain. Raw beets will also be useful after critical days – they contain iron, which will prevent the development of anemia. Another amino acid – arginine – has antitumor activity, so the raw root crop will be useful for women and for the prevention of tumors in the female organs.
During pregnancy and HB
For pregnant women, red raw beets are useful for the same folic acid (or vitamin B9), iodine and iron. They are needed for the trouble-free development of the fetus and the normal course of pregnancy in the mother herself. The root crop, included in food at this time, is able to prevent anemia, possible problems with the thyroid gland. Beets during pregnancy will help to avoid swelling and constipation, which often occur at this crucial stage in a woman’s life.
After the birth of the baby, raw beets can be consumed, but in limited quantities. Attention! The dyes of this root crop enter the milk and can provoke an allergy in a child. If this happens, then it is better to refuse beets immediately.
For children
For a growing organism, beets are of interest, first of all, as a source of vitamins and elements. It should be in the diet of all children, with the exception of those who have diseases for which it is contraindicated. The benefits of this vegetable for children are its anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating, appetite, digestion and metabolism regulating properties.
For the elderly
Useful properties of beets will be useful for the elderly. It has been experimentally proven that a raw root crop and its juice increase energy metabolism in the body of old people, allowing them to feel more energetic. They spend less energy on work and recover faster, are more physically active. It has also been established that beetroot has a rejuvenating effect on brain tissue, thereby slowing down the destructive age-related processes that occur in it, and improves the quality of life of older people.
What is useful red beets
Raw beetroot can be a wonderful medicine that you can always find in your kitchen. It can become a healing tool that will complement the main traditional treatment of certain diseases.
With diabetes
The glycemic index of raw beets is 30 units, while boiled beets are 65. From which it follows that it is the fresh vegetable that will bring the greatest benefit to diabetics, and especially to those who have digestive disorders.
Raw beets are allowed to be eaten by patients with both types of diabetes, but it is necessary to adhere to the norms and not exceed them. In type 2 diabetes, beets can even be consumed daily. Its carbohydrates are absorbed gradually, which is why there is no sharp jump in glucose in the blood. Beets with diabetes can be eaten simply grated, in the amount of 100 g per day, or in combination with sour cream or olive oil. This will help not only to control the level of sugar, but also to reduce weight. Beetroot in diabetes also regulates the functioning of the intestines, which only enhances its therapeutic effect on the body.
With pancreatitis
With this disease, raw beets should not be consumed, since it has a stimulating effect on the digestive organs, including the pancreas, and increases its secretory activity. This can provoke an exacerbation, so neither the raw root crop nor its freshly squeezed juice can be taken. However, this does not apply to boiled vegetables – cooked beets with pancreatitis are not contraindicated. It can be eaten alone or included in all sorts of dishes.
With gastritis
With this gastric disease, raw beets can bring both benefit and harm to the body. It all depends on what kind of gastritis – with high or low acidity. In the first case, you can’t eat it, it contains organic acids that will irritate the already damaged mucosa. It is logical that in the second case it is possible to eat a fresh vegetable, it will not be harmful, but, on the contrary, will be beneficial. As for the use of the root crop in this disease in general, doctors say that it is better to eat beets with gastritis baked or boiled. But pickled and pickled root crops are contraindicated in both cases.
From pressure
One of the beneficial properties of raw beets is that it lowers blood pressure. Thus, it should be included in your menu for hypertensive patients, but not for those who have low blood pressure. You can take the “medicine” in boiled form, make juice and kvass from vegetables.
How to cook beets for pressure
Boiled root crops can be eaten separately or used as a component of dishes. The juice should stand for 2-3 hours before drinking, it is not recommended to drink freshly prepared juice. For those who don’t really like its natural taste, you can mix it with juice from other vegetables, such as carrot or pumpkin juice, or honey.
Cooking kvass:
- Clean and wash root vegetables.
- Cut them into thin small pieces or straws.
- Fill the jar with them to 1/3 of its volume.
- Put 1 tbsp. l. sugar and 2-3 slices of rye crackers or bread.
- Top up with cold clean water.
- Cover with a piece of clean gauze and put in a dark place at room temperature.
Beet kvass will be ready when there is no specific taste of a raw vegetable. In the intervals between doses, store in a household refrigerator, take it slightly warmed up.
The benefits of raw beets in cosmetology
The benefits of this vegetable are expressed not only in internal, but also in external use. It has a good effect on the skin of the face, and on the condition of the hair: it removes inflammation, moisturizes and removes peeling, brightens age spots and small freckles, makes hair shiny, soft and strong.
Recipe with raw beets for dry skin:
- 1 st. l. boiled and chopped vegetable mix with 1 yolk.
- Apply to the skin of the face for 0,5 hours.
- Then wash off with warm water.
Recipe for problem skin:
- Grate potatoes and beets on a fine grater.
- Take 1 tbsp. l. each of the ingredients and mix.
- Keep on the face for 0,5 hours.
- Wash off with a water-milk mixture (1 to 1).
Recipe for lotion that makes hair shiny:
- Take beet and carrot juices in equal parts and mix.
- Moisten your hair with liquid, put a plastic bag on your head and wait 0,5 hours.
- Wash off the juices with warm water.
Restrictions and contraindications
This vegetable can bring not only obvious benefits to the body, but also harm if used incorrectly. Contraindications for this are:
- gastritis acute or with increased acidity;
- chronic diarrhea;
- urolithiasis disease;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- acute pancreatitis;
- hypotension;
- gout.
Those women who feed a child should be careful about this vegetable. It is known that anthocyanins, which give it a characteristic color, can cause an allergic reaction in a baby.
The harm of raw beets can also be observed in people who are completely healthy if they eat it immensely, therefore, when eating, you need to adhere to the norm: do not eat too much or too often at a time.
Conclusion
The health benefits and harms of beets depend on how you use them. She has a number of indisputable useful properties and qualities, which makes her attractive for use by almost all people. Despite the fact that there are contraindications to the use of raw beets, in general, this is a tasty and very useful vegetable for the proper functioning of many organs. With healthy and moderate use, it is able to maintain health at the proper level or restore it.