02/09/2023 / By Olivia Cook
Beets (Beta vulgaris), also known as blood turnips, are one of the world’s healthiest vegetables – offering a range of incredible health benefits, thanks to their combination of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Here are some of the science-backed benefits of beet juice that promote optimal health. (Related: Drink beetroot juice and enjoy these health benefits.)
Medical News Today reported that a 100-milliliter serving of organic beet or beetroot juice (equivalent to a small glass) contains calories, no fat, protein, carbohydrates, sugar and fiber. Beet juice also contains antioxidants, which reduce oxidative stress. Drinking this vegetable juice regularly can help prevent deficiencies in these nutrients.
Beetroots are a rich source of essential vitamins and minerals, including:
Beetroots also contain other beneficial compounds, including:
Beet juice is packed with vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C and zinc, which are great for boosting your immune system – especially during periods of high stress.
Stress can wreak havoc on your immune system and impair your body’s ability to produce nitric oxide, leading to increased susceptibility to viral respiratory infections, exacerbation of symptoms and more sick days.
A study funded by the British Heart Foundation and presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester indicated that a regular glass of beetroot juice can reduce signs of inflammation in blood vessels that are known to be increased in people with coronary heart disease.
A study published in the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine indicated that ingestion of high dietary nitrate in the form of beetroot juice showed anti-hypertensive effects in humans as exhibited by increased levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate, which protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury – an inflammatory response that causes further damage to viable tissue around the infarct (an area of necrosis in a tissue or organ).
A randomized, crossover study conducted by researchers from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, together with researchers from the University of Queensland, Australia and the United States National Institutes of Health indicated that consuming dietary nitrates before exercise can enhance the amount of force that quadriceps muscles can produce.
Study authors reported that during exercise, participants experienced about a seven percent increase in muscle torque or strength, compared to those who consumed the placebo. Results of the study appeared in the journal Acta Physiologica.
A study published in the Journal of Gerontology indicated that drinking beetroot juice combined with exercise produced brain activity in older adults that resembles that of younger adults. Study authors led by Dr. Daniel Kim-Shapiro explained that beetroot juice supplement works just like exercise, increasing blood flow to the brain, essentially making older brain younger.
Beet juice contains antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin B6 and iron, which help protect the liver from inflammation and oxidative stress while enhancing its ability to remove toxins from the body. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of betaine (also called betaine anhydrous or trimethylglycine) helps prevent fatty deposits in the liver. Its antitoxic levels prevent toxic contents to accumulate.
A research article published in the journal Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science reported that the supplementation of beetroot powder in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease for 12 weeks showed a hepatoprotective effect. Results showed improved clinical symptoms, a significant reduction in liver enzymes and lipid profiles, as well as a significant reduction in liver size as compared to controls.
Snack your way to optimal health with dehydrated and freeze-dried beet chips, marinated beets, organic beet juices or concentrated organic freeze-dried beet juice powder. Beetroots can lose some of their nutritional value when they are cooked.
Visit Superfood.news for more stories about superfoods like beet juice.
Watch the following video to learn about nine good reasons to drink beetroot juice.
This video is from the Natural News channel on Brighteon.com.
Older adults enjoy the heart-healthy benefits of beetroot juice more than younger adults, study says.
New study finds beetroot juice promotes brain health in older adults.
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