Beets Contain Beneficial Substances With Anti-cancer Properties
Author: Dean Rouseberg
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
According to research, the fiber and folic acid contained in beets help reduce cholesterol and triglycerides and a number of other conditions.
Beetroot contains carbohydrates, folic acid, nitrates, magnesium, iron, potassium, sodium, vitamin C, and phytonutrients such as betalains - an antioxidant that is responsible for the red color of vegetables.
According to a study conducted by the University of Exeter, consumption of beetroot juice increases endurance, which allows people to exercise 16% longer. Scientists have found that the content of nitrates in beets leads to a decrease in oxygen, thus making exercise less tiring. Researchers believe that nitrates are converted to nitric oxide in the body, limiting the amount of oxygen that is consumed during exercise. These results are of interest to people with cardiovascular, respiratory or metabolic diseases, except for athletes.
Beets also help regulate blood pressure. A study by Queen Mary University in London found that 24 hours after consuming 250 ml of beetroot juice, blood pressure drops. According to scientists, nitrates are converted into nitrites by the action of saliva, and they in turn lower blood pressure.
Fiber, along with folic acid, which is contained in beets, also leads to a drop in cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Beets can also be used as a natural laxative for constipation or hemorrhoids.
Beets contain magnesium, which is necessary for the proper absorption of calcium. That is why the root is also useful against osteoporosis. This is a fact that is emphasized by various studies.
Beets contain betaine, which suppresses homocysteine levels. Such a property is beneficial in the fight against cardiovascular disease. High levels of homocysteine are usually an indicator of inflammation of the blood vessels.
Betaine also limits other inflammatory factors such as C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). In other words, betanin inhibits the growth of abnormal cells leading to tumors of the colon, nerves, lungs, breast, prostate, stomach and testicles.
The root is rich in betacyanin - an antioxidant useful in cognitive disorders such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease. The antioxidant promotes the growth of CD8 cells, which have the ability to destroy abnormal cells, leading to the development of colon cancer.
However, scientists point out that more research is needed to prove the anti-cancer properties of the substances in beets.
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