The earthy root vegetable, a beet, comes in several colors, including deep red, yellow-orange, and white sugar beet variants. Beets, regardless of variety, have a lot to give for our health. They include lots of fiber, potassium, nitrates, and antioxidants. Many specialists think they are effective at promoting blood flow, reducing inflammation, and clearing the body’s detoxification pathways. Understand what happens to your body when you consume beets and some tips for including them in your diet below.
- Reduce Blood Pressure
Beets have a highly special impact on blood pressure compared to other vegetables. They are particularly effective at lowering blood pressure because of their high potassium and nitrate content. We know that eating many plants raises potassium levels and decreases blood pressure. Vasodilation is another term for the body’s blood vessel expansion caused by nitrates, meaning that our hearts don’t have to work hard to pump blood throughout the body.
- Supports Gut Health
Certain fibers found in beets feed the microbiota. We now understand that these fibers function as prebiotics, increasing the number and variety of our beneficial microorganisms. Some studies suggest that prebiotics may improve the impact of probiotics, or “good bacteria,” on the health of our digestive system.
- Natural Detox Support
Beets help our liver, which is our body’s natural detoxifier! The vitamin in beets called betalain is what gives the body detoxification pathways. The production of glutathione, an enzyme that assists liver detoxification naturally, is increased by betalains. Glutathione is a potent enzyme being studied for anything from fatty liver disease to anti-aging.
- Lower Inflammation
Antioxidants found in abundance in beets aid in scavenging potentially damaging cells. It has been demonstrated that antioxidants help defend against malignant cells. Antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables that are colorful. Each color denotes a specific class of anti-inflammatory substances, each with a unique purpose in the body. For example, betaxanthin is a colorful component found in gold or orange beets. This substance belongs to a larger group of antioxidants known as betalains. Betalains are well known for reducing inflammation and assisting in the fight against potentially hazardous oxidized cells.
- Regular Digestion
You are well on your way to consuming 25 grams of fiber per day with just under four grams of fiber per cup of beets. Soluble fiber, present in beets, aids in improving bowel regularity and preventing or treating constipation. This is very important for digestion. More fiber is linked to better bowel habits and a lower risk of various malignancies and gastrointestinal disorders.
- Increased Circulation
After their workouts, professional athletes might promote their beet juice. This is because the advantages of better circulation assist in bringing blood flow to the muscles that require repair after strenuous exercise sessions. The nitrates cause increased blood flow and advantages in beets.
