Will beets help with constipation and how to use them correctly to normalize stool for adults and children
Constipation is a pathological condition of the body, which is accompanied by the absence or insufficient excretion of feces. It provokes a deterioration in health (flatulence, abdominal pain) and the development of intoxication and nausea.
The proper functioning of the intestines depends not only on its physiological health, but also on the diet, properly selected food, and medications used. Adding vegetables and fruits to your diet helps the digestive system function smoothly.
Beets as a laxative for constipation
Beets help normalize the bowel movement process in a short period of time. The root vegetable contains a large amount of fiber, which is beneficial for digestion. When it enters the intestines, it swells and displaces feces from it, eliminating stagnation.
Coarse vegetable fibers are food for beneficial bacteria. This affects the proliferation of microorganisms and the restoration of microflora. Fiber helps to completely cleanse the body of toxins and waste.
Minerals and vitamins have a positive effect on the functioning of all organ systems. Betaine stimulates the functioning of the gallbladder and liver. The acids contained in beets irritate the intestinal walls and ensure its normal functioning and timely emptying.
The use of beets to relieve constipation is widely known and recommended by experts.But do not forget about possible allergic reactions and the development of exacerbations from the gastrointestinal tract.
Beetroot Recipes
The red, juicy root vegetable is added to dishes, and drinks are made from it to help fight illness. Let's look at accessible and simple recipes.
Fresh Juice
This recipe will help with severe constipation. The juice is squeezed out of fresh beets using a juicer or manually through cheesecloth. The drink, left in a cool place for two hours, is taken 1 glass twice a day.
You should start with 50 ml 2 times a day in order to accustom the body and not harm it.
Carrot-beet juice
To neutralize the acidity of beet juice, it is mixed with carrot juice in equal parts. This does not reduce the laxative effect, and the walls of the stomach react more calmly to the drink.
Raw beets for constipation
Eating raw vegetables has an irritating effect on the intestinal walls, thereby normalizing its functioning. Vitamin beet salad is eaten before breakfast.
Important. The size of one serving should not exceed 150-200 g.
To make beets easier to digest, it is recommended to eat them with butter. Any vegetable that you are used to adding to dishes will do: sunflower, corn, olive.
Soups
Many people believe that the only first dish with beets is borscht. But there are other options for soups using healthy root vegetables.
Beetroot soup (beet soup)
To treat constipation, beetroot soup is boiled in vegetable broth. When boiling beets, add lemon juice to help the dish retain its color. They put a lot of vegetables in the soup:
- potato;
- bell pepper;
- carrot;
- onion.
The greens are chopped and thrown into the broth 5-10 minutes before the end of cooking, or the finished dish is decorated with fresh chopped dill, parsley, celery, and cilantro. When serving, place half a boiled egg on the plates.
Cold beetroot soup or red okroshka
This is a cold soup common in the Baltic countries. They prepare it like okroshka. But instead of kvass, the “salad” is filled with beetroot broth. In order for the dish to retain its pink color and have the sourish taste familiar to okroshka, add lemon juice or 9% vinegar to taste.
Boiled beets
Boiled beets are eaten by both adults and children. To preserve as many vitamins as possible in the root vegetable, it is boiled in a double boiler.
The boiled vegetable is eaten as a salad during breakfast, lunch and dinner or in small portions of 50-100 g during the day, washed down with 1% kefir.
Read also:
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Beetroot decoction
Freshly squeezed beet juice should not be given to newborn children. It is replaced with beet broth. The root vegetable, cut into small cubes, is placed in a saucepan and cooked over medium heat for 10-15 minutes after the start of boiling. Then the broth is allowed to brew and cool, the pieces of the vegetable are removed. This medicine is given to the baby from a pipette, 1-2 drops 3 times a day.
Attention! Do not treat on your own without first consulting your pediatrician.
Salads
Fresh vegetables and fruits normalize intestinal motility. Therefore, it is recommended to include dishes based on them in your diet, for example, beetroot salad with prunes. Raw ripe root vegetables are washed, peeled and grated on a coarse grater. The prunes are cut into cubes, poured over with boiling water to make them softer and added to the beets. The salad is seasoned with vegetable oil and eaten before bed.
Raw beets are added to cabbage and carrot salads. The combination of the beneficial properties of the root vegetable with the large amount of fiber in other vegetables enhances the laxative effect.
Rules and norms of consumption
Beetroot dishes and drinks are introduced into the diet gradually, observing the body’s reaction. Excessive amounts of this vegetable in the diet lead to diarrhea and exacerbation of gastritis.
If an undesirable effect or allergic reaction occurs, adjust the menu immediately. Raw beets are consumed with greater caution than boiled or hot dishes made from it. In children, treatment of constipation with the help of this root vegetable must be agreed with a doctor.
Contraindications
With all the benefits of this vegetable, we must not forget about contraindications and possible side effects. What you should pay special attention to:
- Beets are a strong allergen.
- For gastritis with high acidity, ulcerative lesions of the stomach and duodenum, and urolithiasis, the root vegetable is excluded from the diet.
- Beets interfere with the body's absorption of calcium, so it is prohibited for osteoporosis.
Before introducing beetroot dishes into the menu, analyze how beneficial such a diet will be for your body and whether it will harm it.
Use during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Pregnant women, especially in the third trimester, should not take most medicinal laxatives if they have constipation. They cause premature contractions and stimulate labor.
Obstetricians and gynecologists often, if they have problems with the intestines, low hemoglobin, or high blood pressure, prescribe expectant mothers a diet that includes beetroot dishes. This is useful both for the woman herself and for the unborn child.
The vitamins and acids contained in the root vegetable help the fetal nervous system to develop without disturbances and prevent the development of heart disease in the baby.
Important. Beets, like other obvious allergens, are completely excluded from the diet of a nursing woman, especially in the first months of a child’s life.
Beetroot juice in its pure form is used very carefully to treat constipation in infants. According to the recommendation of pediatricians, it can be given from eight months. If a child is prone to allergies and often suffers from diarrhea, then the introduction of juice into the diet is delayed until a year.
If constipation occurs in a baby under 8 months of age, beetroot decoction or juice mixed with fruit puree or diluted with water is used for treatment.
Reviews and recommendations
On the Internet you will find many positive reviews about the laxative properties of beets. Here are a few of them:
“During pregnancy, I often experienced constipation. I didn’t want to poison myself with pills right away, so I decided to try some of the traditional methods. Beets have become my salvation for constipation.” Svetlana, Moscow.
“My daughter is 4 years old. Mom read in the newspaper that children are recommended to take beets for prevention. We started making beet juices, adding apples and carrots. The baby loves it and we are happy. There have been no problems with constipation, and I hope there won’t be any.” Natalya, Voronezh.
“I suffer from frequent constipation. I started eating boiled beet salad 3 times a week, and the problem disappeared on its own.” Olga, 60 years old.
Doctors recommend following a healthy diet, primarily to prevent constipation. And if this delicate problem arises, try to get rid of it by adjusting the menu. The laxative effect of beets has been scientifically proven. The root vegetable is at the top of the list of fruits and vegetables that help improve intestinal function.
When taking medications prescribed by a specialist, pay attention to possible side effects, whether the drug weakens or strengthens it. If “constipation” is present on this list, start eating beets without waiting for the disease to develop.
conclusions
In this article we talked about the benefits of beets for constipation. We looked at dishes prepared using this vegetable. We found out how to use them correctly for children and adults.
Make sure you have no contraindications, choose the appropriate recipe and try to get rid of constipation or prevent its occurrence with the help of this folk remedy. If the expected effect of treatment does not appear, contact your doctor to prescribe more effective therapy.