Imagine a food – not a drug – powerful enough to help you lower your cholesterol and blood pressure, reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer, and, as an added bonus, put you in a better mood. Did we mention that there are no side effects? Guess what? This life-altering superfood is available right now in your local supermarket. We hear a lot about superfoods these days but the red beet is often overlooked. You’ll be amazed at the powerful health and nutritional benefits that beets provide.
Everything You Should Know About Health Benefits of Beets
Did you know that young beet leaves have a higher concentration of iron than spinach? And, beets are rich in phytonutrients that have detoxification, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Beet juice may benefit obese people by curbing inflammation (a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer), according to a study published in 2009. The study also showed that beet juice may fight free radicals (chemical by-products known to damage DNA). Beets can also control hypertension and heart attack risks, as confirmed by scientists at the London School of Medicine and Bart’s Hospital in London.
Drinking just over two cups of beet juice daily may help keep your blood pressure in check, according to another 2008 study. Within three hours of drinking 17 ounces of beet juice, volunteers showed a significant decrease in blood pressure. Even better, that drop in blood pressure was sustained for up to 24 hours after the juice was consumed.The study's authors suggest that nitrate—a nutrient found in green, leafy vegetables and beets—may be responsible for beet juice's blood-pressure-lowering effects. Research studies in the last few years have found that beet juice is the richest source of Dietary Nitrates. The body converts these Dietary Nitrates into Nitric Oxide (NO) in the body through good bacteria in the mouth. This process will open up the blood vessels in the body, increasing blood flow and oxygen specifically to places that are lacking oxygen. NO is a molecule that dilates blood vessels, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to fuel your hard-working muscles during exercise!
In a small study published in 2009, scientists discovered that drinking beet juice may boost exercise stamina. For the study, eight men drank 500 milliliters of beet juice daily for six consecutive days before undergoing a series of cycling-based fitness tests. The results showed that the participants were able to cycle for an average of 92 seconds longer after drinking beetroot juice (compared to their cycling time after drinking blackcurrant juice for six consecutive days). The researchers also observed that study members had lower resting blood pressure after drinking beet juice.
Beets are one of the best sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, forms of beta carotene that are highly beneficial for eye health. Beets have the ability to significantly curb tumor growth. They contain high traces of Vitamin C, and are a storehouse of phosphorus, folic acid, Vitamin B6, and magnesium. A recent report published by Translational Science Center Director Daniel Kim-Shapiro suggests beet is also good for the brain. Kim-Shapiro’s team, conducted a study on the ability of a nitrate-rich diet to prevent and control dementia and poor cognition. They concluded that the daily consumption of beet juice boosted blood flow to the brain, which in turn restricted frontal lobe degeneration due to dementia. What’s more – beet contains betaine, which enhances serotonin production in the brain. In other words, beet is a mood enhancer as well.
Add More Beets in Your Diet Today for Major Health Benefits
The simple beet is one of the world’s most powerful super-foods. Here is a list to recap the benefits we reap from the amazing beet:
- Helps regulate blood pressure
- Promotes cognitive health
- Prevention against anemia
- Antioxidant properties
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Detoxification properties
- Lowers bad cholesterol
- Stamina enhancer via oxygen usage efficiency
- A weapon against infection
- A gate keeper of blood flow to certain organs
- Improves digestion
As you can see, the juice from beets provides incredible benefits and should be a part of everyone’s healthy diet regimen. For this reason, Hallelujah Acres created BeetMax. This acclaimed product provides all of the benefits of beet juice in a simple dehydrated powder. Mix it with water or put it in smoothies, soups, juices or simply place some powder in your mouth – your taste buds will think it iscandy. Try BeetMax Powder or BeetMax Capsules from Hallelujah Diet and start realizing the benefits of the amazing beet in your life today.
Sources
Bailey SJ, Winyard P, Vanhatalo A, Blackwell JR, Dimenna FJ, Wilkerson DP, Tarr J, Benjamin N, Jones AM. "Dietary nitrate supplementation reduces the O2 cost of low-intensity exercise and enhances tolerance to high-intensity exercise in humans." Journal of Applied Physiology 2009 Aug 6.
Webb AJ, Patel N, Loukogeorgakis S, Okorie M, Aboud Z, Misra S, Rashid R, Miall P, Deanfield J, Benjamin N, MacAllister R, Hobbs AJ, Ahluwalia A. "Acute blood pressure lowering, vasoprotective, and antiplatelet properties of dietary nitrate via bioconversion to nitrite." Hypertension. 2008 Mar;51(3):784-90.
Zielińska-Przyjemska M, Olejnik A, Dobrowolska-Zachwieja A, Grajek W. "In vitro effects of beetroot juice and chips on oxidative metabolism and apoptosis in neutrophils from obese individuals." Phytotherapy Research 2009 Jan;23(1):49-55.
