The benefits and harms of beets for the human body: how, how much and in what form it is better to eat the vegetable

Back in the 2000s BC, this vegetable was used for medicinal purposes. Avicenna, Paracelsus and Hippocrates used it in their recipes. Much later, it began to be served on the table, but its healing properties are valued to this day.

It will help eliminate anemia, increase potency, reduce pain during critical days, and improve the condition of cancer and other diseases. What plant are we talking about? Today we will talk about table beets - a tasty and healthy product.

Red beets are great for health

Degree of benefit and harm beets largely depends on the state of the body, individual characteristics, acute or chronic nature of the disease, if any. Not only the root vegetable itself, boiled or raw, is used for food, but also its tops, juice or decoction.

The raw product is healthier

Almost any vegetable or fruit is more beneficial when consumed raw than after heat treatment. When exposed to high temperatures, many vitamins and minerals are destroyed. Raw beets and their juice have such beneficial properties as:

• normalization of arterial pressure;
• improved vision;
• preventing blood clots;
• cell cleaning and regeneration liver.

Boiled is no worse

Unlike other vegetables, beets almost do not lose their beneficial properties when cooked, but only become slightly higher in calories. Thermally processed vegetable has the following properties:

• improves blood composition and compensates for iron deficiency;
• the B vitamins that make up the vegetable have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, so beets have a calming effect;
• the vegetable is famous for its antioxidant properties, thanks to which it inhibits the aging process in the body;
• has a beneficial effect on the digestive system, eliminates congestion in the intestines.

What's useful, what's inside

Beets are rich in microelements and vitamins necessary for the normal functioning of the body. The beneficial effects of the vegetable extend to almost all systems and internal organs.

What are the benefits?

The above properties should not be so strictly divided into those inherent in processed and raw products. The beneficial qualities in both cases are approximately the same with only one difference. In raw vegetables, the concentration of nutrients is higher, but it is more aggressive to the gastrointestinal tract. The heat-treated product is softer.

Common properties include:

• benefits for the female reproductive system, especially during menstruation;
• beneficial effect on the prostate gland;
• anti-inflammatory effect both when taken orally and when used externally;
• beets contain a lot of iodine, so they are useful for those who have problems with the thyroid gland due to a lack of this element in the body;
• supports the functioning of the immune system;
• Low calorie content allows beets to be used in dietary nutrition.

What is burgundy vegetable rich in?

The table below shows the composition of important nutrients in the root vegetable.

Counting calories

100 g of table beets contains only 43 kcal. Percentage of proteins, fats and carbohydrates:

• proteins – 1.6 g (3.02% DV);
• fats – 0.2 g (1.95% DV);
• carbohydrates - 6.8 g (5.31% DV).

This is such a healer

Beets are useful for liver and gastrointestinal diseases, hypertension, anemia and other diseases. There is even a known positive experience of using root vegetables in the treatment of cancer. Methods of taking and rates of use of herbal medicine are different. We will talk about them below.

Note! Beets with a high content of chemicals will not only not be beneficial, but will also cause harm. It is best to grow vegetables in your summer cottage or buy them from trusted sellers.

Useful for the gastrointestinal tract

Beetroot is used to treat the gastrointestinal tract. Fiber, which it is rich in, removes toxins, which helps normalize the intestinal microflora.

Preparation of the product: Take cognac, honey, carrot and beet juice in equal parts, mix the ingredients - the product is ready.

Application: consume three times a day 30 minutes before meals.

The liver will thank you

Beetroot broth will help cleanse the liver and restore its functions. It also promotes tissue regeneration.

Preparation: washed medium beets are boiled in 3 liters of water until the volume of liquid is reduced by 2/3. The finished beets are grated, added to the resulting broth, boiled for another 20 minutes and filtered.

Application: The broth is divided into four equal parts and taken throughout the day. Ideally, after taking it, you should apply a heating pad to the liver area and lie down on your right side for a while.

To help cancer patients

There is an opinion, confirmed by a number of studies, that burgundy vegetables can slow down the growth of cancer cells and even reduce tumors. Beetroot helps, if not cure, then at least improve the condition of cancer patients. Beetroot medicine is considered to be most useful for cancer of the rectum, bladder, stomach and lungs. The use of the vegetable also reduces the side effects of radiation therapy.

For treatment use freshly prepared beet juice.

Application: begin treatment with small doses, for example, 1 teaspoon or tablespoon, and gradually increase to 500-600 ml, dividing the dose into doses of 100 ml. Take the medicine 30 minutes before meals. Its combined use with sour drinks and yeast bread is contraindicated. The treatment period is 12 months, then the dose is reduced to 200 ml and continued to be taken as a prophylactic agent.

It is important! Do not forget that before using any traditional medicine, you must consult with your doctor.

For slimming shapes

Opinions vary about whether it is possible to lose weight with beets, because this vegetable is sweet. IN The benefits of its use for weight loss are indicated by two factors:

1. Contains betaine, which is very often used in pharmaceutical preparations for weight loss.
2. The ability of the “burgundy doctor” to remove toxins, normalize cholesterol and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Thanks to the latter quality, metabolic processes are restored, which helps to reduce body weight.

For weight loss, beetroot juice is also used, diluted with water or other non-acidic juice in a ratio of 1/10. Start taking the juice with very small portions and bring it up to a quarter glass.

It is also useful to introduce dishes with vegetables into your diet.Beetroot cocktail also has fat-burning properties. To prepare it you will need: medium or small beets with tops, orange, green apple, 1 tbsp. l. honey, a large pinch of ginger, a glass of water or almond milk. All ingredients are thoroughly washed and cut, the orange is peeled and divided into slices, then crushed with a blender - a tasty and healthy cocktail is ready.

It is important! Beetroot juice should absolutely not be taken immediately after preparation: it will contain many heavy and even harmful compounds for the body. When drinking freshly prepared juice, vasospasm may occur. To get rid of negative substances and get maximum benefits, leave the product in an open container for at least two hours.

For men, women and children

The range of beneficial properties of table beets is very wide. Products based on it promote rapid healing and significant relief of symptoms of diseases. Let's talk about the benefits of vegetables for both sexes and children.

Strong half

The burgundy vegetable has long been recognized as an excellent preventive remedy in the fight against the main male problem - prostate disease. In addition, beets increase libido and have a positive effect on potency.

Our “heroine’s” ability to cleanse the intestines of pathogenic microflora and congestion helps to avoid inflammation and keep the prostate gland healthy. It also protects against urological inflammation. To achieve a sustainable effect, representatives of the stronger half of humanity should include beets in their diet. Side dishes and salads with the addition of burgundy vegetables, consumed regularly, also have a positive effect.

Folk remedies also perform remarkably well, for example: freshly squeezed juice of one vegetable is mixed with carrots and ginger chopped in a blender (up to 2 cm of root), a small amount of cream is added and diluted with apple or orange juice (also fresh). The resulting composition is drunk daily in the morning.

For female beauty and more

One of the most valuable properties of beets for ladies is its ability to normalize the menstrual cycle and hormonal levels. Folic acid, B-vitamins, and iron in the vegetable help reduce nervousness during PMS. And during the critical days themselves, the pain syndrome decreases.

These vitamins are also irreplaceable for pregnant women. In addition, beets help relieve swelling and normalize iron levels. Beetroot will also help keep high blood pressure, which also often rises towards the end of the term, normal without medications.

The vegetable is also used for cosmetic purposes for hair, scalp and face. For example, beetroot masks perfectly eliminate inflammatory processes on the skin of the face.

Preparation: Grate a medium potato, add wheat flour and dilute with beetroot broth.

Mode of application: The creamy product is applied to the skin for 10 minutes, then washed off with water diluted in half with milk.

Of course, beets also help nursing mothers recover after pregnancy and childbirth. But it should not be abused:

• due to its ability to slow down the absorption of calcium (this should also be taken into account by pregnant women);
• Brightly colored foods such as beets often cause allergic reactions.

Therefore, nursing women need to be vigilant and closely monitor the baby’s condition so that at the slightest sign of an allergy, stop taking the vegetable.The same applies to the child’s digestive system. If his tummy begins to bother him or his bowel movements become too frequent, the use of the product should be limited.

Note! In a sensitive situation such as pregnancy or breastfeeding, it is best to seek specialist advice before introducing new products.

Kids will love it

Children's doctors recommend introducing beets from 8 months, but with persistent constipation, you can start earlier - from 5-6 months.

Beets are a valuable product, but they should be administered with caution. It is best to add beetroot pulp to the baby’s already familiar puree. It is advisable to start with 0.5 tsp. and gradually increase to 4-5 tsp.

Ideally, you should use a new product in the morning so that you can monitor the reaction of the child’s body. If there are complaints about the tummy or an allergic reaction, it is removed from the diet and tried again after 1-2 months. If you experience frequent colic or disorders, you should postpone the introduction of a new puree for up to a year.

Consumption standards

There is a difference in the norm of product consumption for a healthy person and those who have certain problems. So, let's figure out who, how much and how can eat beets?

How much is possible per day

If there are contraindications, the vegetable is consumed with caution. It is recommended to eat up to 100-120 g of boiled product (or up to 50 g of raw) in the morning 1-2 times a week. This norm is allowed even for diabetics, despite the fact that the vegetable is sweet.

For a healthy adult, the norm is to consume 1-2 boiled root vegetables per day or 1 glass of juice. The latter, in the absence of contraindications, can be drunk up to 600 ml per day, but in parts.

In baby food, a boiled product is preferable, since the raw product is too concentrated. If juice is used, then diluted (for constipation). For babies up to one year old, five spoons of puree twice a week is enough. After a year, the beetroot menu can be diversified and the daily norm can be increased to 50 g by three years, and up to 100 g by four years.

About harm and contraindications

There are contraindications to consuming beets, because in some cases they can cause significant harm to the body. First of all, the reason for refusing such a useful product may be individual intolerance or allergic reactions of the body.

It is not recommended for diabetics to overuse the vegetable, as it contains a lot of glucose. And foods containing large amounts of sugar worsen the patient's condition.

Traditional medicine is replete with recipes using beets for kidney stones. But the oxalic acid contained in it can provoke a deterioration in the patient’s condition instead of healing: stones can begin to actively form and grow.

Beets reduce the absorption of calcium, so consuming them in excess is especially harmful for diseases such as osteoporosis. If beets are consumed too often, calcium is absorbed by the body much worse.

Gastritis with high acidity is another reason to think about whether it is worth introducing the product into the diet on an ongoing basis. Organic acids in the vegetable contribute to increased gastric secretions, which provokes a deterioration in the condition.

With low blood pressure, beets are also contraindicated. The vegetable can very quickly reduce blood pressure to a critical point, and emergency medical attention will be required.

With increased thyroid function, uncontrolled consumption of vegetables is dangerous.There is a risk of harming the body, which already has an excess of iodine, and the product is rich in it.

Since beets, especially raw ones, have a laxative effect, people with diarrhea should also not use them until symptoms resolve.

Conclusion

Beets are a tasty and healthy product for the human body, enriching the diet with vitamins and improving the condition of many diseases. But, like any folk medicine, it must be used wisely.

For a successful therapeutic effect, it is necessary to strictly follow the dosage and recommendations. The product does not like fanaticism. The vegetable will help solve facial skin problems and improve hair condition. In addition, it has a beneficial effect on men's and women's health. The main thing is to buy or grow beets in your garden without using chemicals.