Beet juice helps lower blood pressure, improves exercise stamina and muscle power in people with heart failure, helps you maintain a healthy weight, good source of potassium, folate, calcium, iron, sodium and other minerals, supports your liver, provides vitamin c and may reduce cholesterol.
Beet juice has been known to be healthy. But, in what ways? For a vegetable, it sure has been mysterious. Talked about from generation to generation, one cannot tell which facts are actually true and which are common food fads. Worry not! We have got you covered:
Read More:11 Surprising Health Benefits of Beets in Your Child’s Diet
Top 15 Health Benefits of Beet Juice
Helps Lower Blood Pressure
Beetroot juice may help lower your blood pressure. Researchers found that people who drank 8 ounces of beetroot juice daily lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Nitrates, compounds in beetroot juice that convert into nitric acid in the blood and help widen and relax blood vessels, are thought to be the cause.
Improves Exercise Stamina
According to a small 2012 study, drinking beetroot juice increases plasma nitrate levels and boosts physical performance. During the study, trained cyclists who drank 2 cups of beetroot juice daily improved their 10-kilometer time trial by approximately 12 seconds, while also reducing their maximum oxygen output.
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May Improve Muscle Power in People with Heart Failure
Results of a 2015 study suggest further benefits of nitrates in beetroot juice. The study showed that people with heart failure experienced a 13 percent increase in muscle power two hours after drinking beetroot juice.
May Slow the Progression of Dementia
According to a 2011 study, nitrates may help increase blood flow to the brain in older people and help slow cognitive decline. After participants consumed a high-nitrate diet which included beetroot juice, their brain MRIs showed increased blood flow in the frontal lobes. The frontal lobes are associated with cognitive thinking and on-alcoh. More studies are needed. But the potential of a high-nitrate diet to help prevent or slow dementia is promising.
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Helps you Maintain a Healthy Weight
Straight beetroot juice is low in calories and has virtually no fat. It’s a great option for your morning smoothie to give you a nutrient and energy boost as your start your day.
May Prevent Cancer
Beets get their rich color from betalaines. Betalaines are water-soluble antioxidants. According to a 2014 study, betalaines have chemo-preventive abilities against some cancer cell lines. Betalaines are thought to be free radical scavengers that help find and destroy unstable cells in the body.
Good Source of Potassium
Potassium is a mineral electrolyte that helps nerves and muscles function properly. If potassium levels get too low, fatigue, weakness, and muscle cramps can occur. Very low potassium may lead to life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms.
Beets are rich in potassium. Drinking beetroot juice in moderation can help keep your potassium levels optimal.
Good Source of Calcium
Calcium is an extremely important mineral needed for healthy bones. Without sufficient calcium, our bones can become brittle and that can cause weakness.
Good Source of Iron
Iron is an important part of haemoglobin and keeps the body healthy and free of any sudden cravings. Lack of iron can make one moody, resulting in a changed appetite. Beet makes sure that one has enough iron in one’s body.
Good Source of Sodium
We usually get our daily intake of sodium through salt. However, people with high blood pressure are restricted to eat salt. They can easily compensate for this sodium deficiency by having beet.
Good Source of Other Minerals
Your body can’t function properly without essential minerals. Some minerals boost your immune system while others support healthy bones and teeth. Besides potassium, beetroot juice provides:
Provides Vitamin C
Beetroot juice is a good source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps boost your immune system and protect cells from damaging free radicals. It also supports collagen production, wound healing, and iron absorption.
Supports your Liver
If your liver becomes overloaded due to the following, it may lead to a condition known as on-alcoholic fatty liver disease:
- a poor diet
- excessive alcohol consumption
- exposure to toxic substances
- sedentary lifestyle
Beetroot contains betaine, a substance that helps prevent or reduce fatty deposits in the liver. Betaine may also help protect your liver from toxins.
Good Source of Folate
Folate is a B vitamin that helps prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. It may also decrease your risk of having a premature baby. Beetroot juice is a good source of folate. If you’re of childbearing age, adding folate to your diet can help you get the 600 mcg recommended amount.
May Reduce Cholesterol
If you have high cholesterol, consider adding beetroot juice to your diet. A 2011 study on rats found that beetroot extract lowered total cholesterol and triglycerides and increased HDL (good) cholesterol. It also reduced oxidative stress on the liver. Researchers believe beetroot’s cholesterol-lowering potential is likely due to its phytonutrients like flavonoids.
Nutrition
With 0.2 g total fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 78 mg sodium, 325 mg potassium, 10 g carbohydrate and 1.6 g protein, beet juice is one of healthiest foods to intake during any season.
Intake
Drinking about 2 cups of beet juice every day is extremely beneficial for health.
Side-effects
- Beets sometimes make urine or stools pink or red.
- It’s not known whether it’s safe to use beet in larger medicinal amounts during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Eating too many beets might make kidney disease worse.
Recipe
- Wash the beets well, removing any dried dirt or mud from their surface.
- Cut the beets into quarters. You can save and use the greens as well or discard them.
- Turn on the juicer and push the pieces of beet into it one at a time until you have the amount of juice you desire.
Prepare the beet juice, take a sip and feel your body getting healthier by the second! One glass of beet juice every day is sure to keep you fit and fine. With so many benefits, one won’t need to look for any other alternatives.
