Beet is a sweet, bulbous, root vegetable that has risen to superfood status over the past years. Why?
Becucase beets are loaded in natural chemicals known as nitrates. Through a chain reaction, your body transform nitrates into nitric oxide. This helps with blood pressure and blood flow.
Also, study shows drinking beetroot juice may benefit your health. Here’s how.
Health Benefits of Beetroot Juice:
1. Cancer Prevention
One of the main benefits of beet juice is that beets are known to be cancer-preventive. The betacyanin present in beet juice helps in the prevention of the formation of cancerous tumors and also detoxifies your body of all harmful toxins.
Along with dissolving the bad calcium these beet juice benefits may be effective in the prevention and also possibly the reversal of many types of cancer.
There has been research and success with colon, leukemia, lung, liver, skin, breast, spleen, prostate and testicular cancer. This seems to be the case, even when taking a very low dose.
2. Improves Exercise Stamina
A 2012 study showed that drinking beetroot juice helps to increase plasma nitrate levels and boosts physical performance.
During the study, trained cyclists who consumed 2 cups of beetroot juice daily showed improvements in their 10-kilometer time trial by approximately 12 seconds. They were also able to reduce their maximum oxygen output.
3. Glowing Skin
If you ae healthy from within, it also reflects on the outside. Beetroot juice is a great blood purifier.
Also, beetroots are rich in Vitamin C which helps in clearing blemishes and in evens out your skin tone, thus giving it a natural glow.
4. Liver Health
Betaine is one of the main benefits of beet juice. Betaine helps in stimulating the function of liver cells and in protecting the bile and liver ducts.
Beet fiber increases the production of detoxifying enzymes in the liver (Catalase, SOD and glutathione).
5. Lowers Blood Pressure
Beetroots are loaded with natural chemicals called nitrates. Through a chain reaction, your body changes nitrates into nitric oxide, which then helps with blood flow and blood pressure.
A 2012 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that a low dose of beetroot demonstrated significant hypotensive effects. (4) The results of this study suggest that beetroot consumption remarkably lowered systolic blood pressure (when heart muscles contract) and diastolic blood pressure (when heart muscles relax) over a period of 24 hours when compared with a water control group.
6. Reduce Cholesterol
If you have high cholesterol, you should consider on adding beetroot juice to your diet. A study in 2011, conducted on rats showed that beetroot extract lowered triglycerides, total cholesterol and increased HDL (good) cholesterol.
Also, it also reduced oxidative stress on the liver. Researchers believe that the beetroot’s cholesterol-lowering potential is because of its phytonutrients such as flavonoids.
7. Rich Source of Potassium
Potassium is a mineral electrolyte which helps muscles and nerves to function properly. If your potassium levels get too low, weakness, fatigue and muscle cramps may happen. Very low potassium can lead to life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms.
Beets are loaded in potassium. Drinking beetroot juice in moderation can help to keep your potassium levels optimal.
Beetroot Juice Recipe:
6 celery stalks
1 beet
1 green apple
1/2 cucumber
DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine all ingredients in the vegetable juicer.
2. Mix gently.
3. Consume immediately.
Related Articles:
1. Health and Nutritional Benefits of Beets
2. How to Use Beets for Colon Cleansing and Liver Detox
3. Can You Replace Your Coffee With Beets