Beets: useful properties and contraindications

Beet Ingredients

This vegetable is rich in burgundy color is rich incarbohydrates and fiber, as well as microelements necessary for our body, such as phosphorus, iodine, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, calcium and zinc. In addition, it contains pectin, betaines, folic and gamma-aminobutyric acid, as well as organic acids that are no less important for us (citric, malic, tartaric, oxalic, lactic).

There is a significant vitamin in the beetcomponent: provitamin A, vitamins C, PP, E, and also some representatives from group B (B1, B5, B6). With all this, it is considered a low-calorie product and in a cooked form is perfectly absorbed, practically without losing its properties. Although the useful properties of raw beets are still somewhat higher.

Useful properties of beets

Such a broad concept, as useful properties, with regard to beet has quite specific examples of effects on different organs and systems of our body:

• Cellulose and pectin substances contained inthis vegetable, are a reliable protection against radiation and heavy metals, excrete cholesterol, and also "clean" the intestines and maintain a normal microflora in it. Such beneficial properties of beet for the liver are simply invaluable;

• the presence of organic acids in the root vegetable makes it an excellent "helper" for our digestive tract in the process of digesting food;

• beet betaine is an effective natural remedy for lowering arterial pressure and preventing atherosclerosis, it normalizes protein and speeds up fat metabolism;

• irreplaceable beet during pregnancy - usefulproperties in this case are due to the presence in it of folic acid, which is necessary for the full development of the fetus. In addition, this acid promotes blood formation, rejuvenation (by stimulating the formation of new cells), and also prevents cardiovascular diseases;

• useful properties of beets are used and for weight loss, it is able to break down fats, remove slags and speed up digestion, and also contains few calories;

• iodine content makes beets necessarypart of the diet of people with iodine deficiency disorders. In addition, this red vegetable has a laxative and soothing properties, stimulates the brain. It is also believed that it has an antitumor effect.

In what form do you use beets?

This claret root has a significant advantage in terms of methods of consumption, because it retains its useful substances in any kind of cooking. With a little nuance:

• useful properties of beet juice mostare expressed, therefore in this form it is simply universal in its effect and possesses all of the above effects. But you need to use it a little stubborn (not less than 2 hours);

• useful properties of the beet broth are used inmore narrow range. It is considered an effective diuretic, laxative, and also used to clean the liver. And if the beet broth is supplemented with cinnamon, lemon juice and ginger in equal parts, then its immunity and lipotropic properties will be added to its basic qualities;

• useful properties in the boiled beet are lostquite insignificant, so it will also successfully cope with the cleansing, laxative, normalizing work of the intestine and liver functions. In boiled form beet has antihypertensive and antiatherosclerotic effect, and is also applied externally in adulthood and for the treatment of ulcers, skin cracks.

When you need to be careful with beets

Like many products, beets have usefulproperties and contraindications. They are conditioned by the same substances, which in one case are treated, and in the other they are harmed. Limit the use of beets or completely eliminate it from the diet in the following cases:

• with diabetes, because it has a lot of sugar;

• in case of osteoporosis or its location to it - due to the fact that the beet interferes with the absorption of calcium;

• with increased acidity, especially in combination with gastritis due to the property of the vegetable, increase this index;

• the presence in the composition of oxalic acid makes it dangerous for urolithiasis. It is also not advisable to use beets for diarrhea, since it has a laxative effect.

Author: Katerina Sergeenko