Beets, the common root vegetable that is loved by kids and adults alike, is filled with nutritional value and it also promotes our cardiovascular health to a very large extent. There are some pigment antioxidants in beets that help in protecting the body against coronary artery diseases, low cholesterol, and even stroke. It is a vegetable that helps in slowing down the aging process. The Health benefits of this root vegetable are innumerable.
Beets are small herbs that have large dark green leaves. Fifty or sixty days after sowing beet seeds, you get mature beets which are around 170 grams. It has to be picked at the right time or it might grow big creating cracks on the surface and it will not be much tasty. There are different types of beets such as red, orange-yellow and white ones. The red color of the vegetable due to the pigment called betalain.
Health benefits
- Beets are low in calories. It does not contain any cholesterol and has only a tiny amount of fat. It has vitamins, fiber, antioxidants and minerals that make it a very good option to have every day.
- Folates are found in excess in beets. If they are cooked for more time, the folates will get lost. For the DNA synthesis of cells, folates are very much necessary.
- Vitamin C is found in abundance in beet tops or beet leaves. Vitamin C is very much essential for the body for removing harmful free radicals and prevent the body from developing cancer.
- To maintain perfect mucus membranes as well as skin and vision, it is very essential for having a good amount of Vitamin A.
- It is a very good source of a phytochemical compound called Glycine betaine. It can lower the Homocysteine level in the blood. Platelet clot is promoted by homocysteine, which is a very toxic metabolite. With high levels of homocysteine in the blood, one will experience coronary heart disease, vascular disease as well as stroke.
- The top green of beets is rich in carotenoids, vitamin a and flavonoid antioxidants. The green top has ore amount of these compounds than the root part. To maintain a healthy mucus membrane as well as good skin, and to get a good vision, these compounds are very essential. So it is very essential for consuming green parts of the beets. Moreover, they also help to protect us from cancers of lungs and mouth.
- Potassium is also found in the root part. It helps to lower the rate of heart problems and helps to regulate cell metabolism properly.
Selecting Beets and storing it
When you choose beets, try to get fresh and firm ones. Do not pick those with a soft consistency and overgrown and over mature ones as they do not taste good. Try to get organic beets as possible for getting the utmost health benefits.
Normally in markets, the roots along with the greens are found in the market for sale. Make sure to cut the green top first and then wash it well. If you do not cut the leaf from the root, it will take out the moisture as well as nutrients from the root. Do make it a point to rinse the leaf in saline water for a few minutes so that the dirt and other insecticides are removed properly before cooking.
Add beets to soups or stir fry them and do make it a point to include them to your daily diet and get assured of getting a healthy body, as what you eat does reflect a lot.
