Beetroot doesn’t just taste great, they’re also loaded with vitamins and minerals. Their roots are packed with essential nutrients like fibre, iron, folate, manganese, potassium and vitamin C, and while they’re normally cooked or pickled before eating, they can also be eaten raw.
In the UK, beetroot crops are grown where soil is most fertile, which gives it its sweet taste, with crops usually ready around July and August. Read on for a closer look at this purple powerhouse.
1. Beetroot is packed full of fibre
With about 3g in every 100g, beetroots are stuffed full of fibre, which is an important part of a healthy, balanced diet. They have been linked to reducing several conditions: several studies have shown that getting enough fibre could help keep constipation and digestion problems away. While the likelihood of strokes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and high blood pressure may also be reduced.
2. It helps lower blood pressure
Research suggests that diets rich in nitrates may lead to a reduced risk of heart disease and could also lower blood pressure levels. Luckily for us, beetroots grow in the ground, and are a wonderful natural source of natural nitrates. Better still, the nitrates in beetroot are considered to be “good” nitrates, compared to processed “bad” nitrates which are often added to processed foods to act as preservatives.
3. It helps you exercise for longer
Instead of drinking an energy drink, why not eat or drink some beetroot before you hit the gym? According to various studies, eating beetroot could lead to better exercise performance. And evidence suggests that the natural nitrates contained in beetroots may increase stamina and improve the way our bodies use oxygen during high intensity workouts.
4. It’s perfect food for pregnant women
In addition to its fantastic nutritional qualities, beetroot is also of exceptional value during pregnancy. Beetroot is known for its high levels of vitamin B9 folate, which reduces the risk of natural birth defects (NTD) in unborn babies, and helps child development while they’re in the womb.
Handpicked article: Six delicious ways to include beetroot in your diet.
Sources
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24876314
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18250365
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22709704
