According to a Hypertension study, people with high blood pressure who drank 240ml of beetroot juice experienced a decrease in blood pressure of about 10mmHg.
Beetroot juice contains dietary nitrate, which relaxes blood vessel walls and improves blood flow.
Beetroots are also high in tryptophan, a fleeced amino acid, and boron, a mineral important for bone health. They also contain a unique source of betaine, a nutrient that helps protects cells, proteins and enzymes from environmental stress.
If you simply throw away the green leafy tops to your beets, think again as these are among the healthiest part of the plant.
Besides containing important nutrients like protein, phosphorus, zinc, fiber, vitamin B6, magnesium, potassium, copper, and manganese, beet greens also supply significant amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron.
Believe it or not, beet greens actually have even more iron than spinach as well as a higher nutritional value overall than the beetroot itself.
There are many ways to enjoy beets:
- Grate them raw over salads
- Add them to your fresh vegetable juice
- Lightly steam them
- Marinate them with lemon juice, herbs, and olive oil
- Roasted with other vegetables such as carrots, sweet potato and pumpkin