Beetroot is the taproot portion of the beet vegetable and belongs to the same family as chard and spinach. While white and yellow beets make for pretty dishes, only red beets have the cancer fighting compound betacyanin.
Beetroot has many different health benefits including but not limited to:
– Rich in protective antioxidants
– May have anti inflammatory benefits
– May have anti cancer benefits
– May help lower blood pressure and heart disease risk
– May improve energy levels and support exercise performance
– May protect the gut
An 80g serving of raw beets contains 29 calories, 6.1g carbohydrates, 1.4g protein and .1g of fat as well as 304mg of potassium and 120mcg of folate.
What are the top 5 health benefits of beetroot?
1. Rich in protective antioxidants
Beets have made the list of the top 10 most potent antioxidant vegetables (1), which essentially means they help combat the damaging effects of oxidation. The compounds responsible for the beet’s deep purple color called anthocyanins have also been shown to have high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities.
2. May have anti cancer benefits (2)
Betacyanin is the powerful plant pigment that helps give beetroot its rich color and is also thought to help suppress the development of some types of cancer. (3) Beetroot also contains other potential cancer-fighting compounds (4) including ferric acid, ruin and kaempferol.
3. May have anti-inflammatory properties
Some research suggests that betalains, the family of natural colour pigments that betacyanin belongs to, may help reduce the symptoms and markers of inflammation. This includes potentially relieving discomfort of inflamed joints, such as the knees. (5)
4. May help lower blood pressure
Beetroot is naturally rich in compounds called nitrates and it’s these compounds that make beetroot so heart friendly. Nitrates help to improve blood flow by relaxing the blood vessels, which potentially lowers blood pressure.Studies also suggest that nitrate-rich foods, like beetroot, may also help in heart attack survival. (6, 7, 8)
5. May improve exercise performance and support energy levels
The exercise community has certainly embraced this vegetable specifically after paralympic gold medalist David Weir revealed his secret to success being a shot of beet juice. Studies support Weir’s findings and suggest when athletes add beetroot to their regime, it may support exercise endurance and improve performance. (9) Important to note is that when muscles are in a resting state after exercise, the nitrates in beetroot help to bring more oxygen to the muscle cells promoting an efficient recovery.
Beetroot is thought to have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which may help reduce the risk of heart disease, as well as support gut health, lower blood pressure and potentially have anti-cancer effects. In addition, this nutrient-rich vegetable is often used to boost athletic endurance and support muscle recovery after exercise. This is why we chose to include 400mg of beet powder in our pre-workout Vitality+ to help support exercise performance and recovery.
The contents of this blog should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem-nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. Always consult your physician or qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
