The benefits and harms of beets and beet juice

Useful properties of beets

You can always talk about the beneficial properties of beets. The plant strengthens the walls of capillaries, has anti-sclerotic, soothing and vasodilating properties. Substances contained in beet roots remove excess fluid from the body. Beetroot normalizes the work of the heart. Due to the content of pectins in the plant, it is used as an excellent remedy for the effects of heavy and radioactive metals. Beets are used in the decline of strength, anemia, as a means of preventing atherosclerosis.

Beetroot is a plant that is used by many people who want to get rid of extra pounds. With the help of beets, you can forget about hemorrhoids. The plant has tonic and diuretic properties. Fresh beetroot juice is used as an anti-cold remedy.

Composition and calorie content

Other important connections:

• Phytosterols — 25 mg (45% of RDI)

• Purine — 8 mg (6,7% of RDI)

• Oxalic acid — 500-600 mg (137,5% of RDI)

The benefits of raw beets

Beets remove radionuclides and salts of heavy metals from the body. It also resists the development of cancer cells, since it contains betacyanin, a pigment that causes the rich color of this root crop.

Beetroot contains betaine (a kind of vitamin), which is able to restore liver function and improve its functioning. Betaine balances metabolic processes in the body, is a prophylactic in the fight against atherosclerosis, heart disease, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease. Beetroot strengthens the walls of blood vessels, improves the condition of capillaries, has a beneficial effect on the digestive system, helps to compensate for the lack of iodine and iron in the human body, and also helps to lower blood pressure.

The tops of young beets contain a large amount of protein, minerals and vitamins (some were listed above). Among vegetables and root crops, beets have no equal in terms of the content of ionic calcium (moreover, there are several times more ionic calcium in beet tops!).

It is not for nothing that beets are popular in the treatment of various diseases at home. For example:

• A glass of beetroot juice mixed with a glass of honey is good for hypertensive patients. To feel relief, you need to consume a tablespoon of this mixture daily before meals. 

• A good remedy for angina will be the following recipe. Mix the grated beets with a spoonful of vinegar, then wait until the juice is released. This juice should be gargled until recovery.

• For anemia, mix one glass of apple juice and 1/4 glass of beetroot juice. You need to use this mixture daily.

• This recipe will help women get rid of mastopathy. Mix three servings of beetroot grated on a fine grater with one serving of honey. The resulting mass is spread on a cabbage leaf and applied to a sore spot.

• Fresh beetroot juice is recommended for use during menopause, as well as for menstrual irregularities.

The calorie content of beets is about 40 kcal per 100 grams. The amount of carbohydrates is 12%, protein – 1,5 grams.

Contraindications to the use of raw beets. Since beets are rich in fiber, they should not be consumed by people who have stomach problems (especially at the acute stage). Before taking, you should consult with a gastroenterologist.

With diabetes the use of beets should be limited to a small amount. This is because beets can raise blood sugar levels.

The benefits of boiled beets

This boiled root vegetable is also rich in vitamins. The stereotype that heat treatment kills all the nutrients is unfair to beets. When boiled, it contains iron, iodine, phosphorus, sodium, etc. Beetroot occupies a leading position among vegetables in terms of the content of many valuable minerals.

For example, beets contain natural antioxidants that are necessary to maintain the vital activity of the body. They help to successfully cope with stress, fight the negative effects of the environment, and resist microbes and bacteria that enter the body.

Since ancient times, people have known the valuable properties of beets. During the menstrual cycle, this root crop helped and still helps women to improve their well-being. The male reproductive system also benefits from beets.

Boiled beets contain fiber and vitamin U. They are necessary for the work of the intestines, positively affecting the process of digestion. Fiber cleanses the entire body.

Boiled beets retain a lot of useful substances only when they are boiled in their skins. If the beets are digested, the water will be saturated with vitamins. Since beetroot has a laxative effect, consuming it can help overcome the problem of constipation.

Uncooked beets can irritate the walls of the stomach, so when cooked, they can bring even greater benefits to the body. People with stomach problems need to consume a strictly limited amount of this product.

Boiled beets contain very few calories – only 40-45 kcal per 100 grams of product. For those who closely follow the figure and therefore are on a diet, boiled beets can be consumed daily. Boiled beets have a lot of carbohydrates, a small amount of protein, fatty acids, and folic acid, which improves protein metabolism in the body and promotes the formation of blood cells. It is rich in the following mineral elements: potassium, chlorine, magnesium and sodium. Each of them positively affects both individual organs and the functioning of the body systems as a whole.

A variety of dishes are made from boiled beets, such as salads. The addition of prunes and nuts to beets is considered pleasant. You can fill such salads with sour cream, vegetable oil or citric acid. Such salads can be prepared daily, or for special occasions.

[Video] What happens if you eat beets every day?

Contraindications to the use of beets

• It can be immediately noted that beets weaken the intestines, especially when it comes to beetroot juice – this is generally a natural laxative.

• Beetroot should not be used in excessive amounts, as it can cause spasm of blood vessels.

• It is not recommended to eat it for people suffering from increased acidity of the stomach, as beets will increase it even more.

• With urolithiasis and especially with oxaluria, beets should be used carefully (and beetroot juice is generally contraindicated!). Since it can cause the movement of stones (however, like any other herbal remedy that dissolves stones). Or you need to start with micro doses (half a teaspoon)

• Do not forget that this root crop has a lot of sugar, so be careful with diabetes.

[Video] Who should absolutely not eat beets?