Content
Table beet varieties are a food product known to almost every Russian inhabitant, traditionally used for the preparation of all kinds of everyday or festive dishes. This vegetable of a characteristic burgundy color gives dishes a peculiar taste and certain useful properties. The benefits and harms of beets for the health of people of different ages have long been known; it can serve not only for nutrition, but also be a good medicine that can be used to treat and prevent certain diseases.
Composition and nutritional value of red beet
There are very few proteins, fats and carbohydrates in red beets, as in other vegetables. For example, 100 g of root vegetables contains only 1.5 g of protein, 8.8 g of carbohydrates and 0.1 g of fat. They contain 2.5 g of fiber and 86 g of water, pectin compounds and acids of organic origin are present.
The nutritional value and benefits of beetroot are in carbohydrates, proteins and fats that enter the body as a result of its consumption, as well as in vitamin compounds and mineral elements that it contains.
Vitamin content
Vitamins in red beets are represented by ascorbic acid, beta-carotene and retinol derived from it, nicotinic acid, several compounds from group B (B1, B2, B4, B5, B6, B9), tocopherol, phylloquinone and niacin.
There are also enough macro- and microelements in the vegetable, these are K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, Ph, Cl, B, V, Fe, I, Co, Mn, Cu, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, F, Cr and Zn. From this list, most of all in the vegetable are elements such as potassium, cobalt, manganese, copper, chromium, molybdenum.
How many calories are in beets
Like all vegetables, red beets are not very nutritious: raw calories are only 42 kcal. If you boil it, then the calorie content will increase, but not significantly. It is noted that the nutritional value of boiled root vegetables is 47 kcal.
What are the benefits of raw beets?
The undoubted benefits of raw beets for the body and preservation of health were noted by our ancestors in the past. It was primarily used as an affordable and popular food product, but also as an excellent home remedy that was always at hand. The medicinal and beneficial properties of raw beets are that they:
- prevents blood diseases resulting from a decrease in hemoglobin concentration;
- rejuvenates all body tissues, helping to replace old, worn-out cells with new ones;
- increases appetite, stimulates digestion, enhances intestinal motility;
- removes accumulated toxins and harmful compounds outside;
- prevents the emergence and development of tumors (thanks to anthocyanins - dyes that give it a characteristic red-burgundy color);
- frees blood vessels from cholesterol accumulations, makes them more elastic, thereby helping to prevent the development or treat already existing atherosclerosis or hypertension;
- enhances potency;
- reduces the severity of menstrual pain in women;
- has mild diuretic and laxative effects;
- relieves pain and relieves inflammation of various nature.
Raw beetroot increases physical and mental endurance, raises vitality, positively affects visual acuity, helps in the treatment of thyroid pathologies caused by iodine deficiency, and also improves mood, and treats mild depression.
Raw, not treated with heat, beets are useful for those people who have a severe lack of vitamin C, which makes the gums loose and bleed, capillary and even nosebleeds occur. The benefits of beets for the human body are also noted by many nutritionists - they argue that it is able to normalize metabolism, and therefore can be included in diets for gradual weight loss.
Raw beets are also useful for the body because they cleanse the liver, gallbladder and kidneys, and help improve the functioning of these organs. Vegetable substances improve blood composition, prevent blood clots from forming, lower blood pressure. Thanks to this, it is useful to eat the root crop for those people who have heart or circulatory system diseases, and the biochemical composition of the blood is disturbed.
Such benefits of beets as improving vision, treatment of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose and throat, gynecological and metabolic diseases, and pathologies of the digestive system are also noted. The vegetable is also suitable for the prevention of all these violations.
What are the benefits of beets for the body
Small amounts of raw beets can be consumed at least every day. The easiest way is to grate a small piece of root vegetable and eat it just like that, without additional food. So all the vitamins from it will be completely preserved, and the result will be maximum.
For men
Raw beets for men are useful in that they prevent the development of diseases of the prostate gland, for example, benign hyperplasia or adenoma. This is especially true for men over 50 years old - at this age, many of them begin to have problems of this particular kind. Beets contain substances that stop tumor growth or prevent its appearance. This becomes possible thanks to zinc, of which it contains 0.425 mg per 100 g. In addition, beets cleanse the blood, remove toxins, which also contributes to the maintenance of men's health. But in order for beets to work effectively, you need to eat them daily, for which a small root crop is enough.
In addition to typical diseases, men are often haunted by cardiovascular diseases. And here raw beets will help. It contains flavonoids and betacyanin, they reduce increased blood pressure, relieve spasms, have a strengthening effect on blood vessels, and normalize blood composition. Iodine and organic oleic acid will help prevent atherosclerosis and strengthen the heart muscle. Niacin has the same effect, and there is more of it in raw beets than in many other vegetables.
For women
For women, other substances and minerals are of interest in raw red beets, namely folic acid and valine. Together they stabilize hormones in general and in particular before the onset of menstruation. They help to level such typical symptoms of this condition as mood swings, irritability, and dull pain. Raw beets will also be useful after critical days - they contain iron, which will prevent the development of anemia. Another amino acid - arginine - has antitumor activity, so the raw root vegetable will be useful for women and for the prevention of tumors of female organs.
During pregnancy and hepatitis B
For pregnant women, raw red beets are useful with the same folic acid (or vitamin B9), iodine and iron. They are needed for the smooth development of the fetus and the normal course of pregnancy in the mother herself. A root vegetable included in food at this time can prevent anemia, possible problems with the thyroid gland. Beets during pregnancy will help avoid edema and constipation, which often occur at this crucial stage in a woman's life.
After the baby is born, raw beets can be consumed, but in limited quantities. Attention! The dyes of this root vegetable get into milk and can provoke allergies in a child. If this happens, then it is better to abandon the beets immediately.
For children
For a growing organism, beets are of interest primarily as a source of vitamins and elements. It should be in the diet of all children, with the exception of those who have diseases for which it is contraindicated. The benefits of this vegetable for children are its anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating, appetite, digestion and metabolism regulating properties.
For the elderly
The beneficial properties of beets are also useful for the elderly. It has been experimentally proven that raw root vegetables and its juice enhance energy metabolism in the body of old people, allow them to feel more energetic. They spend less energy on performing work and recover faster, and are more physically active. It has also been established that beets have a rejuvenating effect on the brain tissue, thereby slowing down the destructive age-related processes occurring in it, and improving the quality of life of the elderly.
Why are red beets useful?
Raw beets can be a wonderful medicine that you can always find in your kitchen. It can become a healing agent that will complement the main traditional treatment of certain diseases.
With diabetes
The glycemic index of raw beets is 30 units, while boiled beets are 65. From which it follows that it is the fresh vegetable that will bring the greatest benefit to diabetics, and especially to those who have digestive disorders.
Raw beets are allowed to be eaten by patients with both types of diabetes, but it is necessary to adhere to the norms and not exceed them. In type 2 diabetes, beets can even be eaten daily. Its carbohydrates are absorbed gradually, which is why there is no sharp jump in glucose in the blood. With diabetes mellitus, beets can be eaten simply grated, in an amount of 100 g per day, or in combination with sour cream or olive oil. This will help not only keep your blood sugar levels under control, but also help you lose weight. Beetroot in diabetes also regulates the intestines, which only enhances its therapeutic effect on the body.
With pancreatitis
With this disease, raw beets should not be consumed, since it stimulates the digestive organs, including the pancreas, and increases its secretory activity. This can provoke an exacerbation, therefore, neither raw root vegetable nor its freshly squeezed juice can be taken. However, this does not apply to boiled vegetables - cooked beets are not contraindicated for pancreatitis. It can be eaten alone or included in all sorts of dishes.
With gastritis
For this stomach ailment, raw beets can be both beneficial and harmful to the body. It all depends on what kind of gastritis - with high or low acidity. In the first case, you cannot eat it, it contains organic acids that will irritate the already damaged mucous membrane. It is logical that in the second case it is possible to eat a fresh vegetable, it will not be harmful, but, on the contrary, will be beneficial. As for the use of root crops in this disease in general, doctors say that eating beets for gastritis is better than baked or boiled. But pickled and pickled root vegetables are contraindicated in both cases.
From pressure
One of the beneficial properties of raw beets is that they lower blood pressure. Thus, it should be included in your menu for hypertensive patients, and those with low blood pressure should not. You can take the "medicine" boiled, make juice and kvass from vegetables.
How to cook beets from pressure
Boiled root vegetables can be eaten separately or used as a component of dishes. The juice should stand for 2-3 hours before drinking, it is not recommended to drink freshly prepared juice.For those who do not like its natural taste, you can mix it with juice from other vegetables, for example, carrot or pumpkin or honey.
Kvass preparation:
- Peel and wash root vegetables.
- Cut them into thin small pieces or strips.
- Fill the jar with them to 1/3 of its volume.
- Put 1 tbsp. l. sugar and 2-3 slices of rye bread or bread.
- Pour cold clean water to the top.
- Cover with a piece of clean gauze and place in a dark place at room temperature.
Beet kvass will be ready when the specific taste of a raw vegetable is not felt. In between doses, store in a household refrigerator, take slightly warmed up.
The benefits of raw beets in cosmetology
The benefits of this vegetable are expressed not only internally, but also externally. It has a good effect on the skin of the face, and on the condition of the hair: it removes inflammation, moisturizes and removes peeling, lightens age spots and small freckles, makes hair shiny, soft and durable.
Raw beetroot recipe for dry skin:
- 1 tbsp. l. mix boiled and chopped vegetables with 1 yolk.
- Apply to face for 0.5 hours.
- Then rinse with warm water.
Recipe for problem skin:
- Grate potatoes and beets on a fine grater.
- Take 1 tbsp. l. each of the ingredients and mix.
- Keep on face for 0.5 hours.
- Wash off with water-milk mixture (1 to 1).
Recipe for a shinning lotion:
- Take equal parts of beet and carrot juices and mix.
- Moisten hair with liquid, put a plastic bag on your head and wait 0.5 hour.
- Wash off juices with warm water.
Limitations and contraindications for use
This vegetable can bring not only obvious benefits to the body, but also harm if used incorrectly. Contraindications for this are:
- acute gastritis or with increased acidity;
- chronic diarrhea;
- urolithiasis disease;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- acute pancreatitis;
- hypotension;
- gout.
Those women who are feeding a child should be wary of this vegetable. It is known that anthocyanins, which give it its characteristic color, can cause an allergic reaction in a baby.
The harm of raw beets can also be noted in people who are completely healthy, if they eat it immensely, therefore, when eating, you need to adhere to the norm: do not eat a lot at a time or too often.
Conclusion
The health benefits and harms of beets depend on how you use them. It has a number of indisputable useful properties and qualities, which makes it attractive for use by almost all people. Despite the fact that there are contraindications to the use of raw beets, in general, it is a delicious and very useful vegetable for the proper functioning of many organs. When consumed in a healthy and moderate manner, it is able to maintain or restore health.
