Beets: How Good For You Are They?
Beets: How Good For You Are They?
Beets Are a Superfood: Learn What They Can Do for Your Body
During the summer of 2023, I started purchasing beetroot from local vegetable stands. I typically boil the beets until I can pierce them with a knife and peel them; I also save the juices from the beets to add to my protein shakes. I started putting them on my salads but added them as a snack when I noticed some unexpected changes.
While I knew the dark-colored root vegetable was a healthy choice, I didn’t realize all of the benefits beetroots had to offer until I made them a part of my daily routine. Packed with nutrition, beets have antioxidants like betalains that fight cell damage and inflammation, potentially offering protection against cancer and heart disease. Health benefits of beets include more stamina during exercise, heart disease and stroke prevention, and lower blood pressure.
Right off the bat, I noticed how beets were good for your colon. Beets are rich in antioxidants and high in fiber that can pull toxins into the colon where they can be evacuated. And because fiber isn’t digested by your body like other food components, such as fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, it feeds friendly gut bacteria. Because beets are high in fiber and low in calories, they may help increase weight loss when added to a healthy diet. Each cup of beets will fill you up with 3.8 grams of fiber and only 59 calories. Once you learn how to cook beets, you can throw these tasty treats into any meal.
Beetroot juice is a great way to detox your liver and improve its function. And because it’s a detox agent, beetroot juice will make your skin glow. Beets are high in nitrates which research suggests improves cardiovascular health in several ways. Some studies show beetroot juice supplementation may lower blood pressure and increase blood flow. It increases your oxygen uptake, lengthening the time it takes to become fatigued. This allows people to stay active longer.
The benefits are truly endless.
If you are interested in adding beets to your diet but do not want to go through the hassle of finding and cooking them (they will leave your fingers a dark shade of purple), you can purchase them at your local grocery store already cooked. You can also purchase Gefen Organic Red Beets, whole, peeled, and ready to eat in a 3-pack. One package of beets will last the whole week!
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Kim Duke is a certified personal trainer and owner of Core Performance Fitness and Training, located at 55 Bristol Lane, Ellicottville, NY. Kim resides in Ellicottville where she raised her two sons, Zach and Nik. For more information about her studio, visit her Facebook (Core Performance Health and Fitness), Instagram (@cptcoreperformance) go to www.coreperformancefitness.com or call her directly at 716-698-1198.
