Vegetables of Summer: Beets
Beets, if you can’t beat them, you might as well enjoy them! Here are some benefits of what starts to happen to your body when you include beets as a regular part of your diet.
High Blood Pressure:
According to a review published in Heart and Circulatory Physiology, people who develop high blood pressure have less nitric oxide in their bodies. Nitric oxide is a chemical that causes your blood vessels to relax. It improves blood flow to your organs, muscles, and heart. Beets happen to be rich in nitrates, which the body converts to nitric oxide. Dr. Shannon Amoils, of British Heart Foundation, confirms that a daily glass of beetroot juice can lower blood pressure in people.
Helps Build Exercise Endurance:
A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, found that “adding half a liter of beet juice (also called beetroot juice) to healthy young men’s ages 19 to 38) diets each day improved their exercise performance and duration.”
Improves Liver Function:
Your liver is always working hard to clean your blood and detoxify your body. Give it a little break and take in a daily serving of beets. Research shows that betaine, an amino acid found in beets, can help prevent and reduce the accumulation of fat in the liver.
Better Digestive Health:
“One way to beat irregularity and constipation is by eating fiber-rich foods like beets,” says Leslie Bonci, sports nutritionist. One cup of beets delivers about 4 grams of dietary fiber, particularly insoluble fiber, which helps reduce the risk of constipation, hemorrhoids, and diverticulitis.
