Beetroot – you either love it or hate it!
Beetroot actually comes in many colours, but here the deep purple red variety will be discussed. Its deep rich colour is formed from the plant compound betacyanin.
Beetroot has many health benefits
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It helps support the liver detoxification. Research published in the American journal Hypertension found that beetroot juice reduced people’s blood pressure after just 24 hours.
It also supports digestive health, particularly constipation due to it’s soluble fibre. While the juice helps the colon absorb water. It is also traditionally used for the “test transit time” as it will give you purple red stools when eaten in large amounts.
For improved tolerance to exercise, the juice taken regularly may help and many atheletes take it as part of their training programmes. It works by increasing nitrates, which expands the blood vessels to help take up oxygen.
It is high in the heart- healthy B vitamin, folic acid, and very rich in potassium which helps flush out excess salt and helps keep body fluids in balance, while the joint healthy mineral manganese helps support cartilage. Plus immune boosting beta carotene which converts to Vitamin A!
A great way to increase beetroot into your diet is by adding it to a smoothie, which helps disguise the flavour. Adding it raw is all the better to retain the nutrients. There are many smoothie makers on the market which have powerful extractor that breaks up raw vegetables/salad to provide the nutritious contents.
So here are my top five beetroot smoothies to keep you nutritiously healthy:
Beetroot detoxer
100 g chopped beetroot | 1 large carrot | 1 large stick of celery | 1 handful of kale | 250ml of apple juice
Beetroot Digester
100g beetroot | Half a fennel finely sliced | 100g of fresh pineapple | 1 dap of fresh mint | 250ml water
Beetroot energy buster
100g chopped beetroot | 1 large banana | 1 handful of spinach | 10 slices of cucumber | 250ml of coconut water
Beetroot joint recovery booster
100g beetroot | 100g mango | Handful of watercress | 1 inch cube of grated ginger | 250ml of apple juice
Beetroot healthy heart
Beetroot | 100g chopped apple | Handful of rocket | 100g blueberries | 250 ml of water