The amazing beetroot…why you should add it to your diet...

I recently purchased organic beetroot powder and am enjoying it in my daily green smoothies. Admittedly, eating a salad with beets is a challenge for me. Knowing there are many benefits to this food, I searched for an alternative and thus the powder form. Why am I adding it to my green smoothie mixture? Beets are an incredibly healthy food because of their high vitamin and mineral content. They contain:

• Vitamins A, B, and C

• Potassium

• Magnesium

• Folate

• Soluble fiber

• Protein

• Carbohydrates

• Antioxidants

So beetroot packs a punch. Let’s take a look at 6 benefits they provide:

• Heart health

• Prevents inflammation

• Aphrodisiac

• Detoxification

• Boost energy levels

• Helps prevent dementia

All great things. Let’s take a closer look at those benefits. 1.) Heart health - Beetroot has nitrate present in it which lowers blood pressure. Studies have shown that consumption of beetroot juice can significantly lower blood pressure within hours of ingestion. Beets also reduce triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol. 2.) Prevents inflammation - Betaine, found in beets, is responsible for muscle gain and fat loss. Also, it is responsible for maintaining the cellular membrane and protecting proteins and enzymes from external stressors that my cause inflammation. 3.) Aphrodisiac - “Nature’s Viagra” as the beetroot is known, has the presence of nitrate which increases the flow of blood to the genitals. They are rich in boron, a mineral that is related to the production of sex hormones. 4.) Detoxification - Beets are very useful when it comes to detoxing blood and the liver. As one doctor explains, Beets are very useful when it comes to detoxing blood and the liver. The pigment called betalain that is present in beets helps in the body’s phase II detoxification process, where the unwanted toxins are attached to small nutrient groups, to neutralize them and make them soluble so that the body can eliminate them. Betalain is a natural pigment that triggers this reaction. It is responsible for the beetroot’s deep red color, which is sometimes used to make natural beauty products. A 2014 study showed that beet betalain helped to effectively detoxify both liver and mammary gland carcinogens. Trimethylglycine is also a key part of phase II liver detoxification and it decreases an amino acid homocysteine. High homocysteine is a risk factor for heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. 5.) Boost energy levels - Nitrates are converted into nitrites in the body, which are known to expand the walls of blood vessels and increase their oxygen carrying capacity. This dilation of blood vessels allows for the reduction of oxygen cost to the body. 6.) Helps prevent dementia - As we get older, the flow of oxygen to the brain gets reduced. Consuming beets as a part of a high nitrate diet, “can increase blood flow to the brain in older people, as the blood vessels widen due to the presence of nitrites and the flow of blood and oxygen increases in the places that are oxygen deficient." It seems obvious to state that our diet, what we ingest, is so critical to our health. Yet, we are a nation that is getting sicker and sicker every year due in large part to what we put into our bodies. Let’s not add to the illness statistics; instead, let’s take ownership of our health. Let’s discover the beauty in living well and being strong so others can lean on us. Life...like the beetroot…can be amazing... To your journey, Lisa Schaffer GreenNote Fitness P.S. Checkout my Facebook page for inspiration.