Beetroot is one of those foods that you love, hate or forget that they even exist. Meanwhile, interest in the beet increases. This simple vegetable can help weight loss, increase life expectancy and reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases, according to med.vesti.ru.
Beetroot is an excellent source of fiber, vitamin C, magnesium and folic acid, so this “nutritional powerhouse” should always be in your fridge. By the way, to carry out in summer is particularly simple – beet juice perfectly quenches thirst, a salad of beets and carrots will provide easy and nutritious snack, and a cold soup will be lunch and cool at the same time.
Below are five healthy benefits of beets, which you may not even know.
- Accelerates weight loss
Beets naturally rids the body of toxins, contains no fat and is a good source of dietary fiber – half soluble and insoluble. These two types of fibers help to fight a fatty layer, supporting bowel function and reducing total cholesterol.
Also beetroot is rich in magnesium — a mineral that, according to studies, supports the optimal functioning of nerves and muscles, which can also be useful for weight loss. A study in 2011, for example, showed that high levels of magnesium leads to higher levels of testosterone, which in turn, helps to reduce adipose tissue by increasing muscle mass.
- Improves digestion
In a number of scientific studies beets associated with optimization of digestion due to excitation of nerves in the intestines and improve the body’s ability to digest food. One medium tuber contains 3.4 grams of fiber, which makes beets an excellent source of fiber. And fiber, as we all know, allows you to optimize the performance of the stomach and intestines, relieving us from such digestive issues like bloating, diarrhea or constipation. Plus, fiber moves into the colon, nourish the friendly bacteria the body that will also do you good.
- Lowers blood pressure
Scientists have proven that beets (i.e. beetroot juice) effectively reduces blood pressure in men. In the course of the study, which was published in Nutrition, found that men and women who drank 500 milliliters of beet drink was stronger systolic blood pressure six hours later. And when the researchers restricted the sample to men only, it became obvious that in this case, beet juice and even lowers blood pressure by 4.7 points compared to placebo.
Researchers believe that the secret lies in the high content of nitrates. Our body converts them into nitric oxide, it relaxes the blood vessels, whereby the amount of oxygen in the blood and speed of blood flow increase. All this has a beneficial effect not only on pressure, but heart health in General.
SEE ALSO
- The food in the heat: what products are best excluded from the diet
- Improves sexual health
Because of the nitrates beets also sometimes called “natural viagra”. Like the drug for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, the consumption of beetroot increases the formation of nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels and increases blood circulation in the penis. Thus, the roots, resulting longer erection in men and helps them to become more stamina in bed.
- Prevents cancer
It is established that the phytonutrients found in beets, may be potentially useful for the prevention of cancer. Animal studies, in particular, showed that they inhibited the carcinogen formation and increase production of immune cells and enzymes that can fight cancer cells. In one study of 2013 noted that beetroot extract reduces tumors in animal models. And despite the fact that the similar effect of beets on humans is still not proven, scientists believe that vegetable there are prospects in this direction.
