Everything You Need to Know About Beets
From the pigment that gives beets their vivid color to their fiber and juice, every part of the beet offers its own health benefits. Discover everything you've ever wondered about beets and more.
Beets offer numerous benefits to the human body and are packed with vitamins A, B, C, and P, as well as minerals such as iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and calcium. The leaves of the beet — also known as black beet — are edible and widely consumed. Like radishes, spinach, cucumber, and avocado, beets have an alkaline nature.
As the Tarifi Kolay family, we make a point of making the most of this remarkable food. Our Beet Soup is a true source of healing, and our beloved Mediterranean-inspired Beet Lolo is one of our favorite flavors. We've even brought it to tea time — our Beet Cake recipe is enchanting both in color and taste. The benefits of beets, which still haven't received the attention they deserve in Turkish cuisine, are truly endless. From protecting our bodies against cancer to lowering hypertension, beets have many important health benefits — and we hope they'll soon get the recognition they deserve in our country.
Beets and Their Benefits
Your Immune System Is in Good Hands
Immune system cells need vitamin C to carry out their functions properly. Whether due to stress or infectious diseases, the concentration of vitamin C in plasma begins to drop rapidly. Beets are a powerhouse of vitamin C. When consumed regularly, they strengthen the immune system and protect our bodies against illness.
Balances Blood Pressure
Nitrates obtained from food are converted into nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide relaxes and dilates blood vessels, which improves blood circulation and lowers blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke, chronic heart failure, and kidney disease. Patients with hypertension may consume beet juice — no more than 1 water glass (about 200 ml / ¾ cup + 1 tbsp) per day — after consulting their doctor. Since this consumption significantly lowers blood pressure, it can be a true remedy for hypertension patients.
Fights Cancer, Protects the Heart
Betalain — the pigment that gives beets their color — also has powerful antioxidant properties. Every day, the human body is exposed to free radicals, either from external sources or produced internally, which are harmful substances that can cause diseases ranging from cancer to chronic heart failure. Betalain fights these free radicals thanks to its antioxidant properties. In the same way, it protects the heart and fights against cancer. It is also betalain that protects against heart disease by reducing homocysteine levels, which are known to contribute to the development of cardiovascular conditions.
Supports Cognitive Function
As we age, blood flow to the brain begins to slow down. This slowdown gradually leads to a decline in cognitive functions. Reduced blood supply to brain cells is associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. When nitric oxide levels in the body decrease, blood flow to the brain and cellular communication within the brain can be disrupted. If this becomes chronic, it can result in cognitive impairment and brain damage. The nitrates found in beets are converted into nitric oxide in the body, which helps ensure adequate blood supply to the brain and supports optimal cognitive function.
A Happy Digestive System
Thanks to the dietary fiber found in beets, they help regulate bowel movements and prevent discomforts such as constipation, heartburn, indigestion, and bloating. Regular and adequate fiber intake also helps protect us especially against colon cancer.
Beet Juice and Its Benefits
The first thing people who drink beet juice tend to say is: it has a remarkably refreshing and calming effect.
*Thanks to its rich iron content, beet juice has blood-building properties. It is also known to cleanse the blood vessels and have a blood-purifying effect through its blood-cooling properties.
*Its rich antioxidant content is known to help flush toxins from the body. For this reason, beet juice is considered one of the most natural detox drinks available.
*The betacyanin compound it contains is known to inhibit tumor growth. Beet juice is believed to have therapeutic properties against all types of cancer cells.
*Beet juice consumed regularly in appropriate amounts after childbirth is known to gradually help heal postpartum complications.
*Its rich fiber content helps accelerate weight loss.
*It strengthens bones and helps prevent osteoporosis, or bone loss.
*For liver cleansing, beet juice is the go-to remedy. It is especially recommended that smokers drink 1 glass (200 ml) of beet juice every day.
*If hair loss is caused by a deficiency of potassium and zinc in the body, beet juice is an excellent source of potassium — and can thus help prevent hair loss.
We wish you healthy days…
