Why beets are good

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This article lists 9 health benefits of beets, all supported by science. Share on Pinterest. Many Nutrients in Few Calories. Beets boast an impressive nutritional profile. Summary: Beets are loaded with vitamins and minerals and low in calories and fat. Help Keep Blood Pressure in Check. Summary: Beets contain a high concentration of nitrates, which have a blood pressure-lowering effect. Can Improve Athletic Performance. Several studies suggest that dietary nitrates may enhance athletic performance.

For this reason, beets are often used by athletes. Summary: Eating beets may enhance athletic performance by improving oxygen use and time to exhaustion. May Help Fight Inflammation. However, most of the research in this area has been conducted in rats. Summary: Beets may have a number of anti-inflammatory effects. May Improve Digestive Health. Dietary fiber is an important component of a healthy diet. It has been linked to many health benefits, including improved digestion. Summary: Beets are a good source of fiber, which is beneficial for digestive health, as well as reducing the risk of a number of chronic health conditions.

May Help Support Brain Health. Mental and cognitive function naturally decline with age. For some, this decline is significant and may result in conditions like dementia. Summary: Beets contain nitrates, which may help increase blood flow to the brain, improve cognitive function and possibly reduce the risk of dementia. However, the current evidence is fairly limited. Summary: Studies in isolated human cells and rats have shown that the pigments in beets may help reduce the growth of cancer cells.

May Help You Lose Weight. Summary: Beets have a high water and low calorie content. Delicious and Easy to Include in Your Diet. This last one is not a health benefit, yet it is still important. Choose beets that are heavy for their size with fresh, unwilted green leafy tops still attached.

Here are some delicious and interesting ways to add more beets to your diet: Beetroot salad: Grated beets make a flavorful and colorful addition to coleslaw.

Beetroot dip: Beets blended with Greek yogurt make a delicious and healthy dip. Beetroot juice: Fresh beetroot juice is best, as store-bought juice can be high in added sugars and may only contain a small amount of beets. Summary: Beetroot is a delicious and versatile vegetable that is easy to add to your diet. The Bottom Line. Beets provide some impressive health benefits. Lastly, beets are delicious and versatile, fitting well into a healthy and balanced diet. Read this next.

It also aids recovery because when muscles are in a resting state, the nitrates in beetroot helps to bring more oxygen to the muscle cells helping muscles recover more efficiently. For the rest of us, including beetroot in our diets might be the energy boost we need. Beetroots are one of the richest sources of glutamine , an amino acid essential to the health and maintenance of our gut.

Red beetroots have been ranked as one of the 10 most potent antioxidant vegetables. This means they help protect cells from damage and may be helpful in the fight against age-related conditions like heart disease and cancer.

For some people, eating beetroot may induce beeturia ; a red or pink colour in the urine or stool. It is totally harmless! Beet greens and, to a lesser extent, the roots contain high levels of a natural compound called oxalate. Individuals with a history of oxalate-containing kidney stones should avoid over-consuming high oxalate foods, like beetroot.

Jo Lewin works as a Community Nutritionist and private consultant. All health content on bbcgoodfood. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information. Subscriber club Reader offers More Good Food. Sign in. Back to Recipes Pumpkin recipes Butternut squash See more. Back to Recipes Chicken slow cooker Veggie slow cooker See more.