I remember from my childhood that my mother liked to eat beets. I thought they were weird and boring. I rarely gave them a second thought. Thank goodness I’ve matured and expanded my favorite foods from junk foods to God’s foods. Today, when offered a serving or taste of beets, I rarely pass them up due to their benefits. Here are six reasons you can’t beat beets.
Beets are loaded with nutrients.
Beets are loaded with folate, magnesium, calcium, iron potassium, manganese, and calcium. For the nutrients provided, they are low in calories.
Beets can lower blood pressure.
Elevated blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease. Research consistently shows that beets can decrease high blood pressure in both healthy and overweight individuals. Using beetroot juice has been proven as a cost-effective therapy to lower blood pressure. It’s the high concentration of nitrates in the beets or beetroot juice that dilates the blood vessels which brings blood pressure down.
Beets can lower inflammation.
Betalains, which are pigments found in beets, contain a number of anti-inflammatory properties. One study showed that endothelial function improved, and measures of systematic inflammation declined after drinking 8.5 ounces of beetroot juice daily for two weeks. Inflammation is linked to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and asthma. Actually, many doctors believe that inflammation is at the root of all diseases.
Beets may improve digestion.
Beets are high in fiber. In fact, one cup of beets contains 3.8 grams of fiber. This much-needed fiber helps you control your weight and blood sugar while lowering your LDL cholesterol and preventing constipation. Beets are also good for nourishing the lining of our gut.
Beets purify our blood and detoxify our bodies.
Our liver is a major toxin terminator for our body. So, beets help our liver to detox our bodies and purify our blood. One of our main goals in this toxic day should be to assist in the detoxification of our bodies by eating lots of plants like beets. Beetroot juice activates liver enzymes and increases bile which helps the liver’s detox function.
Beets improve brain health.
The nitrates in beets help to increase blood flow to the frontal lobe and brain by dilating the blood vessels. Whatever helps the heart, also helps the brain.
There’s nothing better for your health than drinking beetroot juice each day. It’s much better for you than a glass of wine.
No wonder both the Cleveland Clinic and the Mayo Clinic recommend the benefits of eating beets or drinking beetroot juice for heart disease, inflammation, digestion, athletic performance, and overall health. You can drink beetroot juice, steam, pickle, and roast them, or open up a can and put them in salads or as a side dish. There are many reasons you can’t beat beets.
One caution. If you have kidney stones or issues with oxalates, it’s better to practice moderation with beets.
Do you like beets? I do. My tastes have changed over time. How do you get beets in your diet?
For Your Health,
Ginny
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Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker and writer who grew up in the halls of power in Washington, DC. She has battled cancer, ministered around the world, and served on the front lines of American culture as a counselor, educator, wellness advocate, and adjunct professor. Brant’s award-winning book, Finding True Freedom: From the White House to the World, was endorsed by Chuck Colson and featured in many TV and media interviews. Unleash Your God-Given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer was released in May 2020 after her journey with cancer and was recently awarded the First Place Golden Scrolls Award for Memoirs, and Second Place in both Selah Awards for Memoirs and Director’s Choice Award for Nonfiction at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference. It recently received the Christian Authors Network’s (CAN) Gold Award for Excellence in Marketing for reaching 62.5 million people with a message of cancer prevention and survival. It was written with commentary from an oncologist and was featured on CBN’s Healthy Living Show, Atlanta Live, and CTN’s Homekeepers along with over 75 media outlets. Learn more and cancer and wellness prevention blog and book information at www.ginnybrant.com.
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