Sweet and delicious in taste, low in calories and fat, and an excellent source of folate and heart-protecting properties make beetroot a very valuable ingredient to include in your diet.

Read on to know more!

The health benefits of beetroots include the treatment of anemia, indigestion, constipation, piles, kidney disorders, dandruff, gallbladder disorders, cancer, and heart diseases. They also help prevent macular degeneration, improve blood circulation, aid in skin care, prevent cataracts, and treat respiratory problems.

Beetroot is low in sodium and fat, which already shows us why it is good. Apart from this, beets are chock-full of other nutrients like iron, manganese, copper, potassium, and magnesium, all of which have their own individual benefits.

Not just the vegetables, but even the leaves have something to offer. Beet greens, as we call them, are packed with fiber and protein. They also contain vitamin K, which enables blood clotting, and calcium, which improves bone and dental health.

The presence of calcium, betaine, B vitamins, iron, and antioxidants has a cleansing and detoxifying effect, which is beneficial for your liver and kidneys.

Health Benefits of Beetroot

Boosts Immunity

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that boosts the effectiveness of the immune system in a number of ways. Besides acting as an antioxidant and defending against the effects of free radicals in the body, it also stimulates the activity of white blood cells, which are the body’s main line of defense against foreign bodies (viruses, bacteria, fungus, and protozoa) that can result in a multitude of infections and illnesses.

Improves Heart Health

Beet fiber helps reduce cholesterol and triglycerides by increasing the level of HDL (good) cholesterol. Increased HDL cholesterol helps prevent cardiovascular diseases and conditions like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and stroke.

Prevents Cancer

Beets are good at preventing skin, lung, and colon cancer since they contain the pigment betacyanins, which counteracts cancerous cell growth. Beet juice inhibits the cell mutations caused by compounds used in meats as preservatives. They also slow down tumor development in the body. Thus, adding beets to your diet can help your body fight cancer and malignant growth.

Prevents Cataract

The presence of beta-carotene in beetroot helps prevent age-related blindness called cataracts as well as macular degeneration that commonly occurs as we get older. Vitamin A (beta-carotene is a precursor of vitamin A) is considered to be a powerful antioxidant that is involved in many essential activities of the body.

Prevents Birth Defects

Beets are good for pregnant women since they are a source of B vitamin folate, which helps in the development of an infant’s spinal column. A deficiency of folate can lead to a variety of conditions called neural tube defects.

Slows Down Aging

Beetroot is actually one of the best home remedies for flakey and itchy scalps. You can boil some beets in water and use the concentrated liquid to massage the scalp. Beet greens contain vitamin A and carotenoids that can benefit you from the inside out. They also contain a decent amount of lutein, another potent antioxidant. These fight free radicals and can help fight wrinkles.

To read about the role of antioxidants in anti-aging, click here!

How can you Include Beetroot in your Diet?

Beets can be cooked and added to many dishes. A famous way to consume beets, or at least beet juice, is in the form of pickled beet eggs. Pickled beet eggs are hardboiled eggs soaked in a mixture of beet slices, beet juice, pickling spices, and vinegar to create eggs that are juicy, tangy, and sweet.

Beets are also commonly found on salad bars. More often than not, they are canned slices of beets. This method of eating beets is not the best, as raw beets would be far better, especially since they contain much less sodium than canned beets. You can use the juice instead of a salad dressing. Do not forget the beet greens when making a salad, either.

One of the more classical ways to consume beets is to roast them and then top them with some cheese. This method makes for a sweet-savory combination. Believe it or not, beets are also great in desserts. They add that smoky, earthy, sweet flavor to many dishes. They can even be turned into ice cream on their own.

Apart from this, you can take beetroots in the form of juice. Beetroot juices are the best, as it is easier for your body to digest and absorb nutrients in liquid form. It is often advisable for runners and athletes to drink beetroot juice, as it allows their muscles to use oxygen more effectively and boosts stamina.

The nutrients in beetroots are heat-sensitive. With the rise in cooking time and temperature, the antioxidant content decreases. So, we always advise you to take it in raw form, if possible. Remove the thin skin, slice, and season the beet with salt, pepper, and lemon juice, and a healthy snack is ready.

We know this post on the benefits of beetroot has blown your mind in a few ways because beets are unbeatable when it comes to health benefits! Let us know in the comments below if you know any interesting ways to consume beets.

Disclaimer: Your urine and stools may turn red or pinkish after eating beets. This condition is known as beeturia and is harmless. But it may startle you if you don’t expect it. If you have low blood pressure, drinking beetroot juice regularly may increase the risk of your pressure dropping too low. Monitor your blood pressure carefully. Beets contain oxalates, which, when consumed in excess, can cause bodily fluids to crystallize. People with kidney or gallbladder problems should avoid beetroots because they could exacerbate kidney and bladder stones.

Nutritional Information
100g of Beetroot provides 43 Calories, Carbohydrates – 9.6g (Dietary Fiber – 2.8g, Sugar – 6.8g), Protein – 1.6g, Fat – 0.2g, Sodium – 78mg
And a percentage daily value of Vitamin A – 1%, Vitamin C – 8%, Iron – 4%, Calcium – 2% (based on a 2000-calorie diet).