Beet Benefits, Interesting Facts Recipes. Beet Benefits. Whether you are someone who already loves beets and consumes them regularly, or youre new to beets and hesitant about beginning to cook with them more, there are plenty of great reasons that beets make my Healing Food Shopping List. Beet Juice Recipes' title='Beet Juice Recipes' />Rich in Vitamin C. Fresh beet and apple juice are both a source of vitamin C. A 12 cup of beet juice has 10 milligrams of vitamin C per serving, and a 1cup serving. Beets are rich in a variety of essential vitamins and minerals, making them an excellent addition to your diet. Beet benefits your body in so many ways such as reducing inflammation, supporting your heart, and protecting your digestive, brain, and eye health. Beets are a versatile food that can be eaten raw in salads and juices, or cooked and added to a variety of recipes spanning from breakfast to dinner. The beet benefits to your health are impressive and somewhat surprising too, when you consider their widespread positive attributes such as their ability to help with exercise performance, to ward off cancer, and to help purify the blood too. Beets Nutrition Facts. One cup of beets provides approximately in daily value 6. Plus iron, vitamin C, and B vitamins. Top 7 Beet Benefits. High in Cancer Protective Antioxidants. Beets are naturally high in disease fighting phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, and trace minerals. Beet Juice Recipes' title='Beet Juice Recipes' />A case of fresh strawberries from a farmers market inspired this new creation in the kitchen. I loved it so much, I made it every day for weeks Loaded with vitamins. Beets are an excellent source of phytonutrients called betalains categorized as betanin and vulgaxanthin which function as cancer protective beneficial antioxidants and anti inflammatory molecules. Studies have shown that betalains help to protect the body from developing cancers such as lung, stomach, colon, and breast cancer, in addition to heart disease and many other illnesses too. The light or dark red, purple, crimson, or orange colors of beets is an excellent indicator of their high antioxidant content, similarly to how berries and other deeply colored fruits and vegetables provide the same disease fighting molecules. Due to their antioxidants, beets are also very helpful in protecting eye health. Beets are a source of lutein and zeaxanthin, which are two carotenoid phytonutrients also found in other similarly colored vegetables like carrots and squash that play a role in protecting eyes from developing conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts. The highest supply of these free radical damage fighting antioxidants are actually found in the greens of the beets. Beet greens contain more leutein and zeaxanthin than the purple beet roots themselves, but even the roots provide a good source, especially golden orange or yellow colored beets. Contains Anti inflammatory Properties. The anti inflammatory compounds found in beets have been shown to inhibit the activity of cyclo oxygenase enzymes, which the body uses to trigger inflammation 1. While some inflammation is necessary and important for the body to undergo everyday because it keeps us free from foreign bacterial or virus invaders and from constantly getting sick too much inflammation is a very big concern. Reduced levels of inflammation help nearly ever system within the body and fight off diseases including heart disease, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases too. The average persons diet is very high in inflammatory properties from processed foods, high amounts of sugar, and low amounts of nutrients so consuming whole foods like beets is an excellent way to reduce the immune system from triggering ongoing harmful levels of high inflammation. Beets are able to combat inflammation due to their betaine compounds. Betaine is actually activated within the body from the nutrient choline, which is derived from B Vitamins. Supports Heart Health. Betaine and choline have been shown to powerfully regulate inflammation in the cardiovascular system, helping to bring cholesterol levels to a healthy balance and to reduce high blood pressure. Choline is able to do this due to its ability to turn off homocysteines, which are inflammatory reactions in the body that increase the risk of cardiovascular problems such as atherosclerosis, or the clogging of arteries. Beets also contain nitrate compounds which studies have shown positively benefit cholesterol levels 2. Researchers now recommend regularly consuming nitrate rich vegetables like beets in order to protect heart health in multiple ways. Detoxes the Blood. Beets are known to be natural blood cleansers. How To Wrap Bread. They are able to help you to detox and cleanse the blood of toxins, heavy metals, and waste due to their compounds called glutathiones, which are essential for detoxification within the liver and other digestive organs. Additionally, the fiber in beets helps to sweep the digestive tract of waste and toxins while restoring healthy and regular bowel movements. The betalains in beets help to form gluthione which neutralizes toxins and makes them water soluble, meaning they can be exerted through urine and flushed out of the body. Studies have shown that when animals are given beet extract, their blood becomes more purified and free from toxins and mutagens, compared to animals who are not treated with beets 3. Helps Maintain a Healthy Sex Drive. Many cultures have long thought of beets as a natural aphrodisiac. Its believed that beets can help boost and maintain a healthy sex drive by increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs. Beets are able to do this due to their high levels of nitrates and boron, two substances that work in the body to regulate the production of human sex hormones 4. Reduced levels of inflammation, increased circulation, and more daily energy are also benefits of consuming beets which are related to maintaining your sex drive as you age. Contains Anti Aging Properties. Consuming beets is one of the best days to cleanse the digestive tract and blood of built up contaminants due to a diet and lifestyle that leads to high inflammation. Detoxification in this way combined with the high antioxidant values found in beets is an effective way to help naturally slow aging. Beets are a great way to help balance p. H levels and to alkalize the body as well. The p. H scale is used to determine acidity versus alkalinity, with 7. Most diseases live in an acidic environment, so your bodys goal is to be slightly alkaline and many whole foods like fruits and vegetables help to achieve this. Limiting consumption of low quality, processed acid forming foods and eating more alkaline forming foods like beets and other root vegetables can protect your body from diseases that occur more commonly in people as they age. This is due to their ability to decrease inflammation. Beets are also a great source of fiber, which helps the digestive system to properly function and even supports weight loss, another key area that can be struggle as you get older. Boosts Endurance, Stamina, and Muscle Recovery. Beets naturally contain nitrates, which in the past you may have heard are harmful when you consume them as a part of products like deli meats, bacon, or other low quality packaged meats, but the type of nitrates found in whole foods like beets are actually very beneficial for boosting energy and performance. Beets have been shown in studies to provide the type of nitrates the body easily uses for recovery and increased physical performance 5. Other studies have shown that supplementing with the type of nitrates found in beets allowed athletes to shave minutes off of their race times and to experience less bodily stress from the exercise 6. Description and History of Beets. Beets are a part of the plant family called Amaranthaceae Chenopodiaceae. Also in this same family of plants are various Swiss chard varieties and other root vegetables, which share beets similar earthy but sweet taste. The leaves of beets were actually historically consumed before the roots were, even though today many people prefer to consume the sweet roots and discard the more bitter, but very beneficial greens. Beet greens were thought to first be consumed in Africa thousands of years ago.