1 Super Veggie, 10 Benefits: Have You Added This Inexpensive Root Vegetable to Your Plate?

When you and I eat this vegetable, it instantly turns our tongues into a deep red hue. Most of us grew up having a love-hate relationship with it. This inexpensive vegetable would always find its place in everything from your sandwich to sabzis and even salads. Scientific studies show how this humble vegetable can transform your health from blood pressure, circulation, energy levels, stamina, sexual health, and more. Yes, I am speaking about the power of beetroot.

Here are the top 10 benefits of adding beetroots to your rainbow plate

Combats fatigue and increases energy levels

Do you feel tired all the time? Or find yourself downing four to five cups of coffee to keep you going? We are here to remind you that it is false energy, not the cellular energy you need. You can enjoy 2 cups of coffee if you like, but when downing it like water, it means caffeine is your energy source. It is not permanent and comes with the side effects of a crash, cravings, and unequal energy distribution in your cells.

You need deep cellular energy which converts into ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and allows you to thrive, wake up in the morning, go through a day, work out, and finish your tasks without depending on caffeine. Beets allow you that energy.

Nitrates as natural vasodilators for better blood circulation and blood pressure

Beetroot is rich in nitrates which act as natural vasodilators. Vasodilators help dilate your blood vessels and maintain their optimum health. It is crucial to maintain heart health and immunity and the prevention and management of cancer, diabetes, and more. Everything in your body is controlled by the circulation of blood. If you have good blood vessel health, everything works the right way. If you do not, you become vulnerable to issues that demand medical attention.

Nitrates dilate your vessels and allow blood to flow more freely. In the process, they bring your blood pressure down naturally. Most blood pressure medications work unnaturally or synthetically to create this vasodilation effect. Does this mean you should jump off your medications? No. But can you add this inexpensive vegetable to your diet to help with blood pressure? Yes.

For better sexual health

Because nitrates act as vasodilators, they also work to boost the blood supply to your genitals and improve your sexual health. I cannot tell you the number of emails that pour in from across the globe in our inboxes every day by men and women struggling with sexual health problems. We need to discuss this openly. Erectile dysfunction, low libido, and loss of libido are all real problems.

While a lot of these may be psychosomatic, lack of adequate blood circulation of blood to your reproductive or sex organs can also lead to them. Women need the right amount of blood rushing to the clitoris as men do to the penis. Adding beets to your lifestyle can help in ensuring this.

To naturally lower homocysteine levels

Your doctors may ask you to check your homocysteine levels. It is found in most test panels and is a biomarker for heart health. People with high homocysteine levels are in danger or at risk of heart issues, which is why your doctors will work with you aggressively to get your homocysteine levels under control. Beetroot contains betaine which helps homocysteine convert to methionine. Having beets can also help you to lower your homocysteine levels naturally.

Another reason behind high homocysteine levels could be low B12. Upping your B12 levels with the right amount of prescribed folic acid can reduce your homocysteine levels. Beetroots are a storehouse of Vitamin B12 and B9 (folate).

Is beetroot a high-sugar food? I am a diabetic. Can I eat it?

Most diabetics might think – but beetroot is a high-sugar vegetable. When it comes to diabetes, it’s not about your glycemic index but your total glycemic load. For instance, watermelon is a high-sugar fruit. It is high on the glycemic index chart but very low on the glycemic load chart. It means that if it is planned – yes, diabetics can consume it. The case is the same for beetroots.

Besides, these are loaded with enzymes, vitamins, and minerals that improve the health of the pancreas to bring down high sugar levels. Check your fasting and postprandial blood sugar levels, and work with your doctor to add this to your lifestyle.

To fight inflammation – the number one root cause of most lifestyle conditions

Beetroots are also super-rich in antioxidants. It is why beetroots have become a prominent part of the recovery plan for most of our patients who finish chemotherapy and radiation. After these conventional treatments, your body needs a lot of natural antioxidants to combat the effect of free radicals. Antioxidants fight or neutralize free radicals that we are exposed to in our day-to-day lives – pollution, heavy metals, contamination, pesticides in food, a sedentary lifestyle, refined cooking oils, and so on.

For healthy blood clotting

The benefits of beets also go a long way in healthy blood clotting. It is required in all of us, especially those undergoing surgery or post-surgery recovery.

For magnesium

It is rich in magnesium which many people today are deficient in. What does magnesium deficiency do to your body? You may experience muscle pain or cramping. Some people wake up with cramps or stiffness in their calves no matter how well they have been eating or exercising. Sometimes all you need to do is balance your magnesium, and the cramps will disappear completely.

Magnesium also helps you sleep deeply at night. Besides, beetroot is also rich in potassium, zinc, and iron. You see how one little vegetable is loaded with elements that your body requires.

For cognitive health

Thanks to nitrates and their vasodilation properties, beetroot works to supply or rush blood to the frontal lobe of the brain, thereby helping your cognitive health. It can be effective for the prevention and management of degenerative brain disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia, and so on.

As a pre-workout drink

When you have beetroot juice as a pre-workout drink, I can tell you this with confidence – you will have better cellular energy. The blood flow to your muscles increases. It enables you to work out harder, build more muscle mass, and lose more fat. It’s as simple as that. Whether it is your next workout or 5k- 10k marathon – start adding beetroot in the whole form or juiced (whatever suits you) to your lifestyle.

Beetroot juice vs dehydrated powder. What is better?

I like to juice my beetroots and drink them within an hour. When you leave them out for too long, their vital nutrients get denatured. You do not want that. If you have the time to juice your beetroot and drink it fresh, do it. We always recommend drinking fresh vegetable juices. What about those who want to carry the beetroot juice to the gym or work?

My team and I have been researching dehydrated beetroot powder for a long time. Science shows that dehydrated beetroot powder has all its vitamins and minerals intact. And it is now available everywhere. Ensure you get good quality and organic beetroot powder. Shop for it here. You can add 2 teaspoons of it to your glass of water and have. Many people invest in small dehydrating machines to make powders like moringa, spinach, greens, beetroots, and carrots at home.

The takeaway

It is not just about googling superfoods and adding them to your meals. Food works in synergies. Try and see what works for you. Beetroot is readily available, low in calories, and high in energy. Make its best use to improve your life and health.

Want to learn more ways of adding beetroot to your meals? Try these recipes.

• Beetroot Smoothie
• Beetroot Khichdi (BEET it Up)
• Beetroot Poriyal (South Indian Stir Fry)
• Beetroot Dip – An Antioxidant-Rich Creamy Condiment
• Avocado Beetroot mousse – Satiating creamy toothsome dessert

Source quality beetroots here.

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