Beets are annual, biennial, and perennial plants. Belongs to the Amaranth family. Beetroot has 13 species and only 2 of them are cultivated plants. It is bred in vegetable gardens to extract sugar and as a vegetable crop.
For many years, beetroot has occupied a worthy place in folk medicine, in cooking and in cosmetology. Now it is difficult to imagine a diet without its use in the preparation of various dishes. And this is justified, since the vegetable has almost all the necessary elements for the human body. In this article we will talk about the benefits and dangers of a root vegetable.
Consider how many and what elements are contained in a vegetable, what it is used for, and in what quantities you can use it without fear of harmful effects.
The chemical composition of root crops
A wide range of chemical content of red beets. First of all, it is sugar in the form of glucose, sucrose and fructose. Also, the vegetable is rich in minerals: magnesium, calcium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc and other elements. Potassium is the largest - about 3.5%. Acids are found in the form of oxalic, tartaric, citric and malic acids.
Calorie content of red beet
The calorie content is low, only 49 kcal boiled per 100 g. And in raw form, even less, only 40 kcal per 100g. It contains 1.5% of raw proteins, 0.1% of fat, 8.8% of carbohydrates, and 0.7% of fiber. This suggests that the vegetable has beneficial properties, both raw and cooked, especially for people on a diet. The vegetable contains a large amount of vitamins - A, C, E, PP and vitamins of the "B" subgroup.
Benefits and harm to humans
Benefit for health
Due to its favorable biochemical composition, it is useful for people with various diseases:
- For chronic constipation. Since beets contain fiber, organic acids and a number of other elements, it has a fruitful effect on metabolic processes in the body; relieves the body of putrefactive bacteria through the action of various acids, and is a "cleaner" of the body;
- For obesity and liver disease. The root vegetable contains the lyotropic substance betaine, which regulates the fat content in the human body. In addition, betaine prevents the penetration of chemical substances into the liver;
- With atherosclerosis and hypertension. Magnesium helps in the treatment of these diseases;
- As a laxative, diuretic;
- With anemia. The vegetable is useful for restoring blood flow, as it contains trace elements responsible for these processes.
- During pregnancy, women. Phyolic acid has a fruitful effect on the formation of the fetal nervous system;
- With diseases of the thyroid gland. Beets, like no other product, have a high iodine content, and the use of this vegetable helps in the treatment of such diseases;
- When following a diet. Due to the fact that beets are a low-calorie product, they are consumed in any beet diet.
Usefulness is determined by two criteria. First, it contains a whole table of Mendeleev's elements.
Beets contain a unique collection of trace elements, which cannot be found in any other product in such a collected form.
Secondly, the vegetable contains many substances that are not destroyed during cooking: the benefits of boiled vegetables are no less valuable than raw ones.
Harm
Beets contain a rich spectrum of all kinds of trace elements and amino acids. With excessive use of this vegetable, in addition to benefits, it can also harm some people prone to the following diseases:
- Diabetes. Sugar is contraindicated for diabetics, and its high content in beets;
- Urolithiasis disease. There is oxalic acid in beets, and with such a disease it is contraindicated;
- Diarrhea. The vegetable itself is a laxative when consumed;
- Osteoporosis. With the use of root vegetables, the absorption of calcium decreases.
In most cases, beet juice should be mixed with other juices to avoid indigestion, headaches, and nausea.
The benefits of leaves
Let's take a closer look at what is the use of this amazing product, starting with the tops (leaves). The tops contain many trace elements with beneficial properties. It contains more vitamins than the root vegetable itself. One of these vitamins is the U microelement, which is indispensable for stomach ulcers.
In early spring, when salads and early cabbage have not yet grown on the beds, young leaves will completely replace these vegetables and replenish the human diet with vitamin dishes. Some families still have traditions in the preparation of the first course - rich borscht and botvinia, where the main ingredient is tops.
The benefits of juice for women
The juice is widely used in alternative medicine, both for internal and external use. It is useful, first of all, by the presence of the B vitamin. As you know, this category of vitamins directly affects the internal organs and the nervous system.
The juice contains elements such as iron, potassium, magnesium and others. They directly help blood flow in the human circulatory system, increase hemoglobin, and remove toxins. The presence of iodine has a positive effect on the elimination of radionuclides and stimulation of the thyroid gland.
Chlorine removes toxins and cleans vessels, acting as a cleaner.
Fresh natural juices are beneficial for the body due to the content of organic acids. They, in turn, have a beneficial effect on the immune system, strengthening it.
The element arginine slows down the growth of tumor neoplasms, providing a therapeutic effect. Thus, the juice is a side effect in the treatment of oncology. The juice is used for external use for skin diseases. Also, many people use beet juice for skin rejuvenation and health.
Contraindications
And now about the contraindications, of which there are not many. But still, it is better not to eat the root crop in this case. You can not eat beets in any form with low blood pressure, diarrhea, diabetes and individual intolerance.
Fresh vegetable application
In cooking
The most famous dish is borscht. An unforgettable herring under a fur coat on New Year's Eve, as well as a vinaigrette, which contains a storehouse of vitamins. In addition, other healthy and delicious salads are prepared with the addition of beets: with cabbage and onions, garlic and mayonnaise, with apples, prunes and others.
In cosmetology
Beets have long been known for their nutrients and appreciated by our beauties. The unique composition allows the vegetable to be included as a cosmetic remedy with great success. This reputation is justified by the following features:
- Visible skin hydration due to the increased potassium content;
- Thanks to vitamin "C" collagen production is stimulated;
- Cleansing the pores of the skin with curcumin;
- Protection against pathogens;
If you wipe your face daily with beet juice diluted with water for two weeks, then the feeling of dryness will disappear without a trace.
All of the above methods have been tested in practice by a large number of people and are more effective and cheaper than many drugs bought in pharmacies.