10 Health Benefits of Beets

Description:


Red beets are known by a whole host of names, including the garden beet, the table beet, and just the plain old beet. One of the most popularly encountered types of beet in all of the continent of North America as well as Britain, red beets are just one of the many cultivated types of beets. Most of the time, the roots of red beets are boiled and then consumed as a cooked vegetable or eaten cold as part of a salad, after you have cooked them and added vinegar and oil. In foreign countries like those in Eastern Europe, adding red beets to soup as part of beet soup is a very popular part of cooking 


Health Benefits:

1. Nature’s Viagra

Seriously. One of the first known uses of beets was by the ancient Romans, who used them medicinally as an aphrodisiac. And that’s not just urban legend – science backs it up. Beets contain high amounts of boron, which is directly related to the production of human sex hormones.

2. High in Vitamins and Minerals

Potassium, magnesium, fiber, phosphorus, iron; vitamins A, B & C; beta-carotene, beta-cyanine; folic acid. These are but a few of the many nutrients, vitamins and minerals that can be found in beets and beet greens. Beets are particularly beneficial to women whom are pregnant, as the vitamin B and iron are very beneficial to new growth cells during pregnancy and replenishing iron in the woman’s body.

3. Cleanse the body

They are a wonderful tonic for the liver, works as a purifier for the blood, and can prevent various forms of cancer.

4. Helps Mental Health

Beets contain betaine, the same substance that is used in certain treatments of depression. It also contains trytophan, which relaxes the mind and creates a sense of well-being, similar to chocolate. Beets can also lower your blood pressure. So if you’re already steamed about not eating beets, you can get a two-fer by diving into them right away.

5. Stomach Acid Tester

How in the world does that work? Glad you asked. If you are eating a lot of beets or beet juice, and your pee turns pink, guess what? You have low stomach acid. Pee still clear? Ratchet it up and get juicing (use the greens too)! Nutritionists use beets and beet juice to test stomach acid levels, so stay ahead of the curve by adding beets to your diet now.

6. High Source of Energy

At the same time they are low in calories and high in sugar (although the sugar is released into your system gradually, as opposed to chocolate). Very few foods found in the natural world are as beneficial as beets in this regard.

7. Prevents Neural Tube Defects

Folic acid is important for the proper growth of new cells. Folic acid is required for the health of pregnant women and someone who requires physical healing. Many people take supplements that have folic acid in it, however, taking the health benefits of beets everyday will fulfill your folic acid need that too in a natural way. Yes, at times taking supplements is essential for health, however, if you can have something natural and avoid that supplement will be good for your health.

8. Excellent Tonic

You can have beets in the raw form as well as boiled, steamed or sautéed forms. You can also have the juice of fresh beets. However the juice of beet has a very strong taste and may not be like by all, but beet juice is an excellent health tonic. You can mix beet juice with carrot juice and apple juice to reduce the strong taste.

9. Immunity Booster

Not only are beets a great boost to your physical well being and a wonderful source of iron, it has been shown to be an immunity booster and guard against cancer.

10. Rich in Antioxidants

In addition to nitrates, beets also contain numerous phytochemicals, including quercetin, resveratrol and other potent antioxidants. The unique combination of these agents in beets is essential to their effectiveness: Studies comparing whole beet juice to juice with nitrates removed found that only non-adulterated, pure beet juice offers the impressive health benefits.

References:
6 Health Benefits of Red Beets. Full Circle
http://www.fullcircle.com/goodfoodlife/2012/05/10/6-health-benefits-of-eating-beets/#s.aa2errnmabiaa 
10 Reasons to Eat Beets. Bewellbuzz
http://www.bewellbuzz.com/nutrition/10-reasons-eat-beets/
15 Health Benefits of Beets
http://voices.yahoo.com/15-health-benefits-beets-fight-cancer-more-805501.html?cat=51
The Surprising Benefits of Beets. Wellness Times
http://www.wellnesstimes.com/articles/surprising-benefits-beets
3 Reasons You Should Be Eating Beets
http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/3-reasons-you-should-be-eating-red-beets.html#b
Beets. Image
http://life123.com






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