If there is one popular root vegetable that has a characteristic vibrant color, it is the beet root. Loaded with nutrients and a unique sweet but pungent flavor beet is considered in high regard as a source of essential nutrients. Available in rich red tones it is widely used in salads and juices. Owing to the beautiful color it is commercially processed and marketed as natural coloring agents and dyes. It can be eaten both raw as well as cooked, albeit the nutritional value of raw beet is much higher than the baked and cooked ones. While beet is the root of the plant, the leaves of the beet plant are also enriched with nutrients. However, they are not preferred much due to their bitter taste. They have higher amounts of iron, vitamin A, potassium and calcium as compared to the roots. Both beet root and beet greens act as effective cleansers and builders of the blood.
Following are the nutritional benefits of beets:
- They are rich in vitamins that include vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and C.
- They are the major source of iron to the human body.
- They are also an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus and sodium.
- Betacyanin is the phytochemical in beet that gives it the rich fuchsia color.
- They have high amounts of folic acid. It is a great health food for pregnant women.
- They possess antioxidants.
- Beet juice contains natural sugar which is an essential nutrient as well.
- It contains sulphur, copper and bioflavonoids.
- It has a lot of fiber content.
- It contains –
- Water – 119.11 g
- Calories – 58
- Protein – 2.19 g
- Carbohydrates – 13 g
- Fiber – 3.8 g
- Sugars – 9.19 g
- Total fat – 0,23 g
- Saturated fat – 0.037 g
- Monosaturated fat – 0.045 g
- Polyunsaturated fat – 0.083 g
- Cholesterol – 0 mg
- Calcium – 22 mg
- Iron – 1.09 mg
- Magnesium – 31 mg
- Phosphorus – 54 mg
- Potassium – 442 mg
- Sodium – 106 mg
- Zinc – 0.48 mg
- Vitamin C – 6.7 mg
- Thiamin – 0.042 mg
- Riboflavin – 0.054 mg
- Niacin – 0.454 mg
- Pantothenic Acid – 0.211 mg
- Vitamin B6 – 0.091 mg
- Vitamin B12 – 0 mg
- Folate – 148 mg
- Vitamin A – 45 IU
- Vitamin E – 0.05 mg
- Vitamin K – 0.3 mcg
- Phytosterols – 34 mg
- Beta Carotene – 27 mcg
- Beta Cryptoxanthin – 0 mcg
- Lycopene – 0 mcg
- Lutein and Zeaxanthin – 0mg
Thus with all these nutrients present in both the roots and the leaves it has an entire list of benefits like, the folate content in beets helps in healthy development of fetus and builds a healthy cardiovascular system. Beet juice when combined with carrot juice forms the perfect natural remedy for cleansing the kidneys and gall bladder and for restoring these organs. It helps give relief from constipation due to its fiber content by increasing peristalsis in the large intestine. The vitamin C content serves as a powerful antioxidant which helps body get rid of deleterious free radicals that may cause cancer. It is used as a natural remedy for disorders like acidosis, anemia, atherosclerosis, blood pressure, dandruff, gastric ulcer, gout and toxicity in liver or bile.
beets are excellent for salads and juicing…. beet are a good source of carotenoids that help in the prevention of all types of cancer …