The Health Benefits of Beets
By Sara Butler
Beets may seem more like a food your grandfather enjoys, but there's more to beets than meets the eye. Beets as well as their greens are nutritional powerhouses and can help you keep your body healthy and working optimally. Here are just a few of the health benefits of beets you need to know about.
Beet Facts
Beets contain a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. They contain:
- Iron
- Folate
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Vitamin C
- Potassium
- Vitamin B6
- Phosphorus
- Copper
They also contain phytonutrients called betalains. They are what give beets their distinctive color and have several benefits to your health on their own.
Benefits of Beets to Your Health
Everyone knows that vegetables are the cornerstone of a nutritious diet. If you include beets in what you're eating, then you may find the following benefits for your health:
- Help reducing inflammation - Chronic inflammation is a big problem and may be the root cause of many chronic diseases. Studies have found beets to help lower inflammation and reduce markers of inflammation found in people with high blood pressure.
- Support a healthy heart - Lowering inflammation can also help to improve your heart health, but beets may also help to lower blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol
- High in antioxidants - Antioxidants are what your body uses to protect itself from cellular damage and beets are full of them
- May help with cognitive function - It's probably a good thing that your grandpa loves beets so much because they may help to improve blood flow to the brain to help protect cognitive function for people of all ages and the folate helps protect the brain too
- May improve athletic performance - Calling all athletes! Beets might help to improve the delivery of oxygen to your tissues via circulation which can help your muscles get the oxygen they need during exercise.
- Improved eye health - Beet greens are a great source of zeaxanthin and lutein, both of which are carotenoids that are good for the health of your eye acting as antioxidants to protect and improve eye health
How Do You Eat Beets
If you've not tried beets, then you may be wondering how to eat them. You can find pickled beets in stores, but you're probably better off cooking some up on your own. You can find a variety of beets, from golden to deep purple. They all have the same nutritional profile, so just try one! You can clean them, toss them with some olive oil, and roast them or add them to your morning smoothie. Experiment and find what you like best. As long as you include beets in your diet, you can't go wrong.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Bossier City, La.