Why We Love Beets — And Why You Should Too! - Love Beets (2024)

FAQs

Why We Love Beets — And Why You Should Too! - Love Beets? ›

Eaten as part of a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, beets promote heart health, help lower blood pressure and LDL or “bad” cholesterol, and improve exercise performance and stamina. They are also great for pre-natal care, supporting liver function, reducing anaemia and fatigue, and much more.

Beets contain trytophan, which relaxes the mind and creates a sense of calmness. Beets are delicious and can be prepared a variety of ways. Try them raw (shred them into salads), roasted, pickled, steamed, sautéed, boiled, juiced, or pureed.

Beets also contain antioxidants, compounds in foods that help repair DNA and maintain good cell health, and they have anti-inflammatory properties, reducing the risk for numerous chronic diseases. Because of this, the beet is gaining popularity as a nutritional approach in managing cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Beets may help reduce the risk of chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and dementia. They are high in antioxidants, which can reduce the risk of cellular damage and some cancers. The nitrate content in beets may also help regulate blood pressure and have anti-inflammatory effects.

One possibility for craving beets is a deficiency in certain nutrients found in this root vegetable. For example, if you are low in iron, your body may send signals to your brain in the form of a craving for beets or other iron-rich foods.

Did you know that there's a scientific reason that these little earth gems make you feel good? Now you do! Beets are a fantastic source of the chemical betaine anhydrous and the amino acid tryptophan, both of which are shown to improve your mood.

The oxalates found in beets can increase your uric acid level, meaning that too many beets can lead to gout. To avoid this, stick to no more than a single half-cup serving of beets per day.

Red and yellow beets provide natural antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. The stronger the color, the more healthy chemicals are in the vegetable.

Retain the good-for-you nutrients in beets by roasting them or sautéing them instead. Or lightly steam them for just a few minutes, suggests Doyle.

Beetroot juice: Beetroot juice is a great way to detox your liver and improve its function. They are high in antioxidants and help to cleanse the blood. They also promote healthy liver function by helping to break down toxins. Try adding some beet juice to your diet for better liver health.

What happens 3 hours after eating beets? ›

It's important to note that blood nitrate levels peak within 2–3 hours of consuming beets or their juice. Therefore, it's best to consume them a couple of hours before training or competing to maximize their potential benefits ( 16 ).

Who Should Avoid Beetroot? Beets are high in oxalates, which can lead to kidney stones. If you've had kidney stones, avoid beets or eat them only as a rare treat. Oxalates can also contribute to gout, a type of arthritis, so eat beets sparingly if you're at risk.

Raw or Cooked? Cooked. Low in calories and high in nutrients, cooked beets reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Benefits: Naturally occurring compounds in beets improve blood flow, help keep arteries healthy and reduce LDL cholesterol (the 'bad' kind).

Side effects of eating too many beets at once include gas, gut discomfort, and red urine or stool. Taking too high a dose of a beet supplement can cause lowered blood pressure – watch out, if you already have low blood pressure.

They're knobby, blood-red and give off a rich, earthy aroma. But it's certainly worth the effort to get to know this nutritionally dense root vegetable. “Beets are unique for their cardiovascular and heart health benefits,” says registered dietitian Sarah Thomsen Ferreira, RD.

Moreover, beets are low in calories with zero cholesterol and a small amount of fat. However, the root is high in sugar and carbohydrates, so while you can consume the greens on top of the root in unlimited quantities, you should only have the root a few times a week. Beets are best from early spring to late fall.

Their “earthy” flavor comes from a compound called geosmin, which is also the same compound that we associate with the smell of “fresh rain” and “forest soil”. Some people are much more sensitive to this compound than others, that is why some people say they taste like dirt, and others love them.

Not only does beetroot benefit our physical health, it can also help with reducing stress and anxiety. Uridine, a substance which helps maintain normal dopamine levels, is found in many beets and helps regulate brain health and controls the brain's reward, emotion, and pleasure centers.

Beet is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth in medicinal amounts. Beet can make urine or stools appear pink or red. But this is not harmful. There is concern that beets might cause low calcium levels and kidney damage.

Drinking too much beetroot juice may lead to hemochromatosis, which is where there is an excess iron build up in the system – and beetroot juice is a good source of iron. So it's important to not overdo it for this reason.