beetroot In praise of
Beetroot is traditionally cultivated throughout the world for its nutritional and therapeutic qualities. Red beetroots contain rich levels of vitamins A, C, E, high levels of vitamins B, folate and potassium, and minerals including iron, copper, zinc, iodine, calcium, and magnesium. Beneficial compounds include inorganic nitrate, and amino acids such as tryptophan and betaine.
NB: Consult your doctor before consuming beetroot juice; in susceptible individuals it may exacerbate kidney stones or interfere with prescription medication. Some people may have beeturia or pink urine after consuming beetroot. It’s caused by the pigments in beetroot – this is nothing to worry about!
Research into beetroots’ benefits suggests that beetroot is helpful with the following:
• The nitrates in beetroot reduce blood pressure, helping patients with hypertension, cardiovascular issues, diabetes, asthma and• The nitrates also improve your blood vessels’ ability to widen, promoting blood flow and thus helping your body to replenish oxygen during exercise and improving lung capacity. Beat your breathlessness with beetroot! • Beetroot supports immune response to pathogens. • Beetroot helps protect the liver and stimulates the liver’s detoxification process. • Beetroot is a traditional blood improver and helps treat anaemia; the amino acids in beetroot enable the iron content in beetroot to be easily assimilated. • Beetroot juice or beetroot kvass reputedly mitigates the negative effects of radiation and chemotherapy treatments, stimulating appetite and reducing inflammation of the red blood cells. Beetroot extract contains betanin, an antioxidant currently being evaluated for use against pancreatic, breast, and prostate cancers. • Beetroot’s fibre aids digestion and prevents constipation. • Aphrodite’s legendary ageless beauty was attributed to beetroot. The root and leaves are used topically to treat skin cancers, heal wounds, and the juice drunk to hydrate and nourish the skin. • Beetroot has qualities to make you glow from the inside out! Besides improving blood flow, beetroot contains tryptophan and betaine, which promote feelings of well-being, and boron, a mineral that increases the level of sex hormones. • Beetroot juice is used as a hair dye, to treat dandruff and prevent hair loss. • Increased blood flow boosts mental acuity and may reduce the risk of degenerative diseases. • Vitamin B, folate, and tryptophan and betaine amino acids are effective mood enhancers.
