Red Beetroot: A Superfood with Great Benefits

Red beetroot is a food that stands out for its high content of vitamin C but also has numerous beneficial properties for health thanks to its range of antioxidants, folates and fiber.

Red beetroot, a super vegetable

We are talking about a vegetable with a lot of history. It is believed that already in prehistory, this plant grew naturally on the coasts of Asia, Europe and North Africa. Still, it was only in ancient Rome that this plant began to be cultivated.

Formerly, its leaves and roots were consumed, and it was in the nineteenth century that red beetroot began to be appreciated for its natural sweetness, starting to be used as a source of sugar.

Today, this plant that is accommodated in poor soils and that was in the past one of the staple foods of farmers deserves the title of superfood thanks to its precious nutrients for health that allow us to face and prevent numerous conditions such as hypertension, and inflammation, among many others.

There are three different types of beets, but red beetroot is the most prominent and known, the same one we often find in salads, thanks to its delicious flavour and refreshing effect.

Properties of red beetroot

Why should we regularly consume red beets? Its root is included in the list of most recommended plant foods, although it is recommended to finish it in moderation due to its high carbohydrate content.

Despite being the vegetable with the highest sugar content, you can consume its root ideally about three times a week. In the case of leaves, you can destroy as many as you want, so thanks to their powerful nutrients, we can improve and take care of our health as follows:

Red beetroot against cancer

Red beetroot is rich in antioxidants, specifically flavonoids, which stand out for their ability to reduce the effects of free radicals and for being a powerful anticarcinogen.

Therefore, including red beetroot in our diet helps us prevent the onset of cancer.

Beetroot against cardiovascular diseases

Another nutrient in red beets is folate (folic acid), a B vitamin found naturally in many foods.

The exciting thing about folates is their ability to protect against different cardiovascular diseases, especially those of the heart.

Folates are also involved in the production of DNA and other types of genetic materials, as well as being necessary for cell division in the body.

Drinking red beet juices or smoothies helps reduce blood pressure over hours. In turn, it also helps relax and dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow.

Red beetroot in pregnancy and menstruation

Being a vegetable rich in iron and folic acid, this food is especially beneficial for pregnant or menstruating women.

For this reason, it is recommended that women at any of these times increase their consumption of red beetroot.

Beetroot for hair and skin

Folic acid is also interesting for hair and skin health thanks to its intervention in creating methionine, an amino acid necessary for the health of hair, skin and nails. Regular consumption of red beetroot helps the skin look younger and healthier.

Beetroot for Constipation and Hemorrhoids

Red beetroot also stands out for its high fibre content, which is of great help to prevent and combat constipation and haemorrhoids.

It is an excellent complementary treatment for both constipation and haemorrhoids, although to be effective against constipation (it does not contain enough fibre to offer results on its own), it requires to be consumed accompanied by other whole foods, fruits rich in fibre such as pineapple or papaya and even with aloe vera juice.

Beetroot boosts stamina

Stamina is responsible for our body’s support of any physical activity. It is the strength, the resistance of our body to physically resist any physical activity, the ability to fight illness, fatigue, etc …

Red beetroot gives you this benefit, so it is ideal for taking a smoothie or juice of this vegetable before exercise since your resistance will increase by 16% more.

Red beetroot is a natural anti-inflammatory.

It is a unique source of betaine, a nutrient responsible for protecting cells, proteins and enzymes from environmental stress.

But betaine also helps fight inflammation and protect organs, improving vascular risk, improving performance and preventing many chronic diseases.

Red beetroot for the elimination of toxins

Red beetroot is an excellent food to purify the body and eliminate toxins. It is a great support for detoxifying the organism that helps cleanse the blood and liver.

Beetroot rich in Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps prevent and improve many diseases. In addition to being a powerful antioxidant, this vitamin improves visual health, prevents arteriosclerosis and reduces cholesterol, cares for the skin, bones and joints and keeps our immune system strong.

Beetroot for anemia

In addition to being rich in iron, beetroot Favours the production of hemoglobin, which makes this vegetable one of the most popular anti-anemic foods in naturopathy.

Beetroot for weight loss and fluid retention

Red beetroot is also helpful for those who want to lose weight, especially those who suffer from fluid retention.

It contains very few calories (43kcal per 100gr), mainly from carbohydrates. With its approximately 3% of fibre and its purifying power, this food is an excellent ally to losing weight.