Beets Health Benefits..Keeps Cancer and Dementia at Bay!

Beets Health Benefits

When I talk to my friends and colleagues about beets and its amazing health benefits, unfortunately most of them seem to screw their face up in disgust! Not everyone's favorite vegetable sadly. But, boy they don't know what they are missing in terms of nutrition and benefits for the body.



Of course, I am a big fan of beets. My favorite is beets on wholemeal bread with a healthy lump of cheese thrown in..mmm heaven.

So, what health benefits are you missing, or put another way, how will you benefit by adding it to your shopping list?

Well, for starters, beetroot as it is known in the UK, is crammed with nutrients that could help stave off cancer, heart disease and even fight birth defects.

So bright and strong in color (betanin and vulgaxanthin), it can only mean good things for your body. The red color is due to compounds called betacyanin and betaaxanthin.

What's more to the point is a subsatnce called betanin, found in beets, that is a very kind and generous donor of electrons.

Now, those of you who have surfed this site and are familiar with free radicals, you will understand that this is a very beneficial quality. Why? Because free radicals are 'bad boy' molecules in our bodies, that are missing one (or more) electrons. The bounce and strut around inside you, looking to 'steal back' electrons from other cells.

All this carnage can help to contribute to many diseases such as cancer and heart disease, to name a few, and even the reason that we age very quickly too.

Are you getting to like beets a bit more now?

In other words, beets contain a good measure of antioxidants, and these are the necessary tools required to neutralize free radicals, thus keeping our health in check.

In a particular lab-study, researchers discovered that betanin and other plant pigments found in beets not only proved effective in free-radical damage, but also it slowed down the growth of stomach, breast, lung, colon and nervous-system tumor cells.

Now I can see you writing them down on your shopping list!

Wait...I haven't finished on the beets health benefits yet.



A study was carried out recently in Italy. It showed that thare are two carotenoids found in beets called lutein and zeaxanthin. These are believed to help support molecules and can be beneficial in relation to eye health such as the macula and retina.

Beets Health Benefits..Beet Juice To Boost The Brain

Thanks to a recent survey at Wake Forest University, North Carolina whose study has shown that, in a very concentrated form, beet juice is able to boost blood supply to certain areas of the brain that are crucial for keeping-up healthy cognitive function, including your memory. As we grow older these areas in the brain become poorly perfused, resulting in dementia and poor cognition, so beet juice to the rescue.

It seems to be all down to the high levels of nitrate found in the vegetable which 'does the trick', and is also responsible for lowering blood pressure too.

These nitrates are also found in such vegetables as celery, greens, cabbage, spinach, and some types of lettuce. It is widely believed that eating foods high in nitrates can help the good bacteria in the mouth turn nitrate into..nitrite, helping to open up blood vessels.

Blood and oxygen flow is then increased and delivered to areas in the body that are lacking in oxygen supply. That is the reason many athletes and sports people are now turning to beet juice, as it has been proven to increase performance, energy, stamina and endurance, due to the extra blood and oxygen flow around the body. I drink 200ml of organic beetroot juice before training and playing tennis for an extra boost.

Back to the brain. In another study, published in the journal of the Nitric Oxide Society, volunteers that were given a diet that was high in nitrates including beet juice, were found to have increased blood flow to the white matter of the frontal lobes (areas of the brain associated with degeneration that leads to dementia).

Raw beets are easy to juice, use raw beetroot or cook lightly then blend. Try and mix it with other juices in a ratio of one part beet to three parts other juice. It's worth noting that studies have shown that the anti-tumor power of beets is lessened by heat, so try not to over-cook.

You can enjoy the beet health benefit straight out of the can as they are nearly as nutritious as if they have come fresh from the ground. This means that thay are great for all-season eating. And only 44 calories per 100g. As you can see, the many health benefits of beet juice.

So, what is the role-call of goodies in beetroot?

Vitamins

Rich in folic acid, vitamin C, small amounts of B1, B2, B3, B5

Minerals

Rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, small amounts of copper, iron and zinc.

Any Other Beets Health Benefits?

There appears to be a couple of areas of health benefits potentially associated with beetroot. These are the anti-cancer and fiber related benefits. With its 'mix' of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant molecules, beets can be effective in helping to fight cancer types (as mentioned above), or reducing the risk of them.

In laboratory studies on human tumor cells, these risks were substantiated for colon cancer, lung, stomach, nerve, breast and even prostate and testicular cancers too.

Oh, and now red beets are on your shopping list, when you get to the grocery store, go to the produce section and give them a little squeeze. Put the soft and squashy ones back, they have been around for a while..you want the firm ones to take home.

Related Pages to Beets Health Benefits This Website

Foods High In Antioxidants

Anti Aging Foods

Juicing Health Cures

Foods to Slow Aging

Brain Boosting Foods

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