The harm and benefits of raw beets: what properties does the fresh vegetable have and how is it used in folk medicine
Everyone knows dish recipes, which will become impossible if boiled beets are excluded from them. This is vinaigrette, borscht, herring under a fur coat and many others. What about fresh vegetables? Can it be eaten?
The topic of our article is raw beets: benefits and contraindications, methods of use, recipes and secrets associated with fresh vegetables.
Raw beets
Beetroot is good for health, so it is often used by humans not as food, but as a medicinal plant. It is consumed in different forms: cooked (boiled, stewed, etc.), raw, in the form of beet juice. Even the tops are eaten.
We eat fresh beets
Can you eat raw beets? Eating vegetables raw is not only possible, but necessary. When we boil, fry, bake or stew beets, some of their nutrients disappear. In its raw form, the vegetable is much healthier, tastier and has such a pleasant crunch in the mouth.
Contraindications
Not everyone can eat fresh beets. Due to its high glucose content, it is contraindicated in diabetes mellitus. Fresh vegetables are harmful gastritis and urolithiasis.
The raw root vegetable has a laxative effect, so it should not be consumed if you have chronic diarrhea. For various intestinal diseases, it should be used with caution. At allergies the vegetable is harmful in any form.
The benefits and harms of fresh beets
It is important to understand the harms and benefits of eating raw beets. It can really cause harm if restrictions are not followed. This is due to its high sugar and fiber content, diuretic and laxative effects.
Benefits of raw beets:
- removes salts of heavy metals and radionuclides from the body;
- restores and improves performance liver;
- strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
- improves the functioning of the digestive system.
In addition, this vegetable contains minerals, vitamins, iron, protein and iodine. This is an excellent source of energy. Raw beets have medicinal properties for various diseases. It is useful for everyone without exception: men, women and children.
Chemical composition and nutritional value
100 g of raw beets contains: 1.61 g of protein, 0.17 g of fat and 9.56 g of carbohydrates. The energy value of 100 g of fresh vegetables is 43 kcal.
It contains group vitamins A, B, C, E, K and PP, as well as betaine and beta-carotene. It is rich in macroelements such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus. The vegetable is also famous for its high content of microelements: iron, manganese, copper, selenium, zinc.
The healing effect of beets
Eating raw beets helps fight cardiovascular disease and the development of cancer cells. Vitamin C prevents the development of bronchial asthma, and beta-carotene prevents lung cancer.
The vitamins in beets help fight cataracts, prevent eye diseases and strengthen fragile capillaries. Eating raw vegetables helps combat hormonal imbalances and macular degeneration.
Potassium in raw beets reduces the risk of stroke, and due to its laxative effect, the vegetable is recommended for people suffering from constipation.
Beetroot juice is used by patients with hypertension, anemia, tonsillitis and mastopathy.
For men
In addition to the beneficial properties listed above, the vegetable has a positive effect on the male reproductive system - it increases the sexual activity of men.
Beetroot juice is used to improve performance, as well as to get rid of a hangover (mixed with carrot, apple and orange juices).
Women
Beets are recommended to be consumed during pregnancy and planning. Due to the content of folic acid, it prevents birth defects in the fetus.
Fresh vegetables are indicated for mastopathy, menopause, and also for menstrual irregularities. To lose weight, use both beet juice and raw beet salad, as well as baked or baked vegetables. boiled.
For children
Beets contain vitamins A, B1, B2, B4, B5, B6, B9, C, E, K, PP, betaine and beta-carotene. Such an abundance of vitamins and nutrients has a positive effect on the healthy development of the child. Many children enjoy chewing fresh vegetables because they are sweet, tasty and crunchy.
Rules of use
For sore throat, add one tablespoon of vinegar to one glass of beet juice. Gargle with this solution.
If you have cancer, eat 200 g of boiled vegetables a day and drink 700 ml of beet juice.
A mixture of 100 g of beet juice and 100 g of honey will help hypertensive patients. Directions for use: 1 tablespoon five times a day between meals.
In case of cholelithiasis, fill the grated root vegetables with water to the top and put on fire. When the broth turns into a thick syrup, strain it and take 100 ml three times a day half an hour before meals.
To cope with a runny nose, mix beet juice with honey in a 2 to 1 ratio and drop it into each nostril 4 times a day.
Recipes with raw beets
There are various recipes for salads with raw beets. The simplest and most delicious of them are below.
Salad with garlic and mayonnaise
Ingredients:
- beets – 1 pc.;
- garlic – 2 cloves;
- mayonnaise;
- salt, pepper to taste.
Peel the beets and grate them. Chop the garlic and add to the beets. Season with mayonnaise.
Fresh vitamin salad
Ingredients:
- beets – 1 pc.;
- carrots – 1 pc.;
- apple – 1 pc.;
- vegetable oil – 2 tbsp. l.;
- citric acid on the tip of a teaspoon.
Wash, peel and grate the vegetables and apple on a coarse grater and place in one container. Add citric acid at the tip of a teaspoon and stir. Season with vegetable oil. Serve with any greens.
Cucumber, raw beet and carrot salad
Salad ingredients:
- carrots – 1 pc.;
- beets – 1 pc.;
- cucumber – 1 pc.;
- ½ sweet onion.
Dressing ingredients:
- mustard beans - 1 tbsp. l.;
- wine vinegar – 3-4 drops;
- olive oil – 3 tbsp. l.;
- ground pepper – 2 g;
- salt, sugar to taste.
To prepare the dressing, mix all ingredients thoroughly.
Cut half the onion into thin half rings. Grate the remaining vegetables on a coarse grater and place in a colander to remove excess liquid. Place everything in a deep container, add dressing and mix well.
Beet juice
Beetroot juice has no less benefits. It removes toxins, uric acid and gallstones from the body. Helps in the treatment of runny nose and sore throat. Improves the functioning of the kidneys, liver and heart, prevents the formation of blood clots.
In addition, fresh beet juice helps with disturbed sleep, low hemoglobin and diseases of the female reproductive system. Helps improve hearing.
Important! Before drinking, beet juice must sit for about two hours. It is not recommended to drink fresh beet juice to avoid unpleasant and even dangerous symptoms.
It is better to drink beet juice mixed with the juices of other vegetables and fruits. A mix of beet, carrot and apple juices will bring the most benefits.
After a hard night, beetroot, apple, orange and carrot juices will help. A mixture of celery and cabbage juice, as well as beetroot, cucumber, banana and carrot juices will relieve heartburn.
The level of iron in the blood is increased by a mixture of beet and carrot juices. Mix beetroot, carrot, ginger and apple juices to improve your digestive system. To improve liver function, use two different juice mixtures:
- beets + carrots + pineapple + lime;
- beets + carrots + radish.
Raw beets and beauty
For girls, raw beets are an indispensable skin care product. Many people know that the vegetable helps with weight loss, but few know that it is also used in cosmetology.
For weight loss
To lose weight, use raw, boiled, baked beets or beet juice.
Boil the beets, grate them, season with vegetable oil and stir. Cut the baked vegetable into cubes, season with vegetable oil and stir.
The best recipe for weight loss with raw beets is carrot salad. Grate the vegetables on a medium grater and season with olive oil. Add salt and sugar to taste. This salad is also great for treating constipation.
Juice mix recipe for weight loss: mix beet juice with the juices of carrots, grapefruit, cucumber, plum and celery.
In cosmetology
Even in ancient times, beets were used as the first cosmetics: they painted lips with it, applied it to the cheeks as blush. It is still used in cosmetology, but mainly as a face mask. This vegetable cleanses and tightens pores, moisturizes and refreshes the skin, soothes inflammation, tones, gets rid of age spots and stimulates renewal processes.
Anti-aging mask recipe: mix 1 tablespoon of beet juice with 1 tablespoon of sour cream and banana puree. Keep this mask for 12 minutes, then rinse with water. Repeat once a week before bed.
Mask recipe for oily skin: mix a teaspoon of beet juice with tomato puree and a crushed aspirin tablet. Keep the mask on for 6-8 minutes, no more. Use before bed once every three weeks.
Recipe for a mask to cleanse pores: grind 5 g of oatmeal and 5 g of chamomile in a coffee grinder, add 15 ml of beetroot broth. Keep the mask for 7-8 minutes, repeat once every two weeks.
Tips and tricks
Beets are an excellent natural red coloring agent. Its decoction or beet juice is used to color eggs for Easter. Beetroot juice is also used as a coloring by confectioners when making muffins, cupcakes and cookies.
For targeted dyeing, beets are useful, but if beet juice gets on clothes or other surfaces, it is extremely difficult to get rid of stains. Therefore, do not forget to wear an apron when working with this vegetable, and to avoid getting your hands dirty, work with gloves.
Conclusion
Now you know whether you can eat raw beets. If you follow the restrictions and use it correctly, you will get the maximum benefit from the vegetable. Choose the appropriate recipe depending on the effect you want to get, and head to the kitchen!