It is believed that beets were first grown in the Meditteranean’s coasts and were primarily cultivated solely for its edible leaves. During ancient times, people only knew the white variety of beet. But in the later years, they discovered that this crop could be in red, yellow, and purple, and enjoyed when raw, pickled, pureed, or a component in the salad.
Today, people still use beets to add the complexity of flavors in their dishes. This crop has a juicy flesh that exudes different flavors to the palate, such as sweet, rich, earthy, and some intricate tongues can taste clove-like and apple-like aftertaste. Moreover, this bulbous crop is jam packed with considerable nutritional value. Are you pondering on what are the health benefits? We laid to you the valuable nutrients you’ll receive in eating beets below.
If you’re an athlete, it is expected that you execute various daily exercises to maintain fitness and develop the utmost physical well-being. During workouts or games, your body secretes sweat and energy that make you tired. With that said, including beets in your diet can help you instantly regain strength because of the existing nitrate. This nitrate helps the mitochondria to produce energy since it’s responsible for the integral regulation of energy.
Moreover, if you’re a cyclist, starting your day with beet’s nutrients in your body increases the proper circulation of oxygen. Therefore, if you plan to ride for miles, beets can be your friend to a more comfortable and healthy trip.
One of the leading causes of bad bowel movement is not having adequate fiber on food intake. Since the fiber is responsible for most proper bowel movements, eating fiber-rich food, such as beets, improves your digestion.
A cup of beetroot can contain 3.4 grams of fiber, which assist proper digestion and production of good bacteria in the gut. Fiber is also linked to reducing potential chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and colon cancer. Additionally, taking enough fiber for the body prevents constipation and inflammation during bowel.
As you age, the mental and cognitive ability decline, and being forgetful is inevitable. The uneven distribution of blood flow and oxygen in the brain is the primary contributor to poor mental function. Indeed, beets are rich in nitrate that allows blood vessels to dilate for easy blood transport to particular parts in the brain.
Dementia is one of the many mental illnesses that, until now, has no cure but can be treated with medications. As an alternative supplement, many scientists eye beets to have an immense contribution to people who are suffering from dementia. Amid, the advantages of beets remain to be seen in clinical spectacle rather than a cure.
The ruby-red flesh and juice of red beets come from a cancer-fighting antioxidant called betalain. This antioxidant immobilizes the cell division and starves the tumor to prevent its growth. Besides, when you include three or four ample-sized beets to your diet, it reduces the risk of developing kidney cancer.
The green beet is a variety of beet that contains an antioxidant called lutein, which protects the eyes from the inevitable age-related macular degeneration. It also prevents the clouding of cataracts in the eyes. If the cataract is left untreated in one eye, it could affect the other eye, and what’s saddening is you can lose your whole vision.
Diabetes is a disease that imbalances that sugar-level and reduces the production of insulin in the body. People diagnosed with diabetes are advised to eat healthily and moderately to prevent it from worsening. They can not eat unhealthy food, and the only solution to satisfy their cravings is finding alternative healthy items.
Cooking the beets in a healthy and flavorful method can be a substitution for starch-rich potatoes. This crop can be more delicious if mixed in salads and soups, appropriate for diabetic patients since it contains alpha-lipoic ac. This antioxidant helps decrease the glucose level and increase insulin production.
A fortified immune system is vital to survival during this pandemic. With that, it’s essential to consider that eating healthy foods makes your immune system strong, and eating beets could be one of the practical ways for a healthier immune system. This vegetable is rich in vitamins A and C, zinc, and copper, known to fight alien agents in the body and immunity booster.
Beet Planting 101
Nothing beats a home garden filled with beets. This type of crop can endure different weather conditions; you can plant beets in the fall or winter or in any season you prefer. Planting beets is not that difficult at all. First, you have to find a portion of your land that’s rich in nutrients. Dig ½-inch deep in the ground and leave at least one to two inches apart. Place three to four seeds, cover with soil, and water it gently. And voila! You now have your own beet garden!
Takeaway
In a nutshell, beets might be small, but it’s packed with flavors and nutrients adequate for the body’s required nutritional intake. It’s an excellent substitution for starch food since it’s healthier anyway. Moreover, now that you’re enlightened with beets’ health benefits, planting beets in your backyard is a good beginning to healthy living.
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