Beetroot is the most useful root vegetable with a long history. Archaeological finds confirm that its healing properties were already known in the time of Hippocrates. And to this day there is a legend that it was this vegetable that saved Eastern Europe and the Balkans from a terrible plague in the deep Middle Ages. Whether this was really the case is difficult to say now, but the benefits of beetroot for human health are undeniable.
What is the use of beet
The rich mineral composition makes this root vegetable indispensable in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Thus, in terms of iron content, beetroot is the leader among vegetable and fruit crops: 1400 mg/100 g-3.5 oz of root vegetables. It has a high content of copper (140 mg/100 g-3.5 oz), potassium (288 mg /100 g-3.5 oz) and magnesium (40-45 mg / 100 g-3.5 oz); contains calcium and iodine salts, as well as a set of trace elements: manganese, molybdenum, cobalt, zinc, fluorine.
How are they useful? Magnesium and potassium are “responsible” for the normal functioning of the heart muscle; calcium is necessary for bone tissue, iron – for hematopoiesis; iodine protects the thyroid gland, and cobalt participates in the synthesis of vitamin B12, necessary for the formation of red blood cells. Zinc has a beneficial effect on the function of the genital glands and increases visual acuity.
Thanks to this mineral composition, beetroot has a cardiotonic, hematopoietic effect; increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood, promotes the restoration of heart rhythm and blood pressure regulation; normalizes the thyroid gland and increases sexual potency.
There are a lot of vitamins in beetroot, but their quantity is relatively small: for example, vitamin C in its raw root contains no more than 5-15 mg / 100 g-3.5 oz, and carotene — 0.01 mg / 100 g-3.5 oz. By the way, beet leaves are superior to root vegetables in terms of ascorbic acid content.
The complex of biologically active substances contained in beets is supplemented with amino acids (by the number of which this root vegetable is also among the leaders among vegetables), organic acids, proteins, flavonoids. Anthocyanins, to which beetroot owes its rich color, strengthen the walls of capillaries, help relieve vascular spasms and help reduce blood pressure.
The lipotropic substances betaine deserve special mention. Together with fiber, they have a beneficial effect on the activity of the intestine, contribute to the elimination of toxic substances from the body, stimulate the restoration of liver cells and protect it, prevent the formation of gallstones in the gallbladder and bile ducts.
The combination of all factors is due to the anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, diuretic, choleretic, laxative, hepatoprotective, antisclerotic effect of beetroot, its ability to regulate metabolic processes and have a restorative effect on the body. The effectiveness of raw beetroot and beet juice in the treatment of certain types of cancer has also been noted.
Beetroot is useful both in raw and boiled form; sauerkraut, beet tops, and juice (both whole and diluted or mixed with other juices) are useful. Infusions and decoctions of beet tops and root crops, beet leaves are also used in medical practice. It is noteworthy that even with prolonged storage, beetroot does not lose its useful properties, so it can be consumed almost all year round.
Fresh beet juice has a wound-healing and anti-inflammatory effect, so it is used, including externally (in the form of lotions) for trophic ulcers and abscesses.
What is the harm of beet
Is such a healthy vegetable capable of harming the body in some way? Yes, it will seem strange. Of course, we are not talking about healthy people, to whom regular consumption of beets will not cause any harm, but will only benefit. But if the body has any problems, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the contraindications to the use of this root.
Since beetroot actively affects intestinal peristalsis, it is not recommended to use it for digestive disorders, flatulence, acute inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. It is also necessary to refrain from beetroot in acute peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, and those who suffer from gastritis with increased acidity of gastric juice, it is advisable to consult a doctor about its inclusion in the diet.
This vegetable is contraindicated in oxaluria (kidney stones with the formation of oxalate stones), since the beetroot has a sufficiently high content of oxalic acid. Chronic kidney failure is another reason to stop using these roots or, at least, consult a doctor.
Some precautions won’t hurt if you use beet juice. Freshly prepared, it contains substances that irritate the gastrointestinal tract and can cause nausea and vomiting, as well as provoke spasm of blood vessels. Therefore, it is recommended to use the juice, allowing it to settle for 2-3 hours beforehand.
Well, it is useful for healthy people to eat beets every day – in salads and borscht; boiled, raw, pickled. And in the summer, do not forget about her eating at all!