Better Health
Eat your beets...
Beets are one of my favorite foods. Their color enriches any dish, and they offer a variety of health benefits. In fact, they are low in calories, as well as fat, but high in flavor. Moreover, they pack high doses of vitamin C, fiber, vitamin A and folate, a water-soluble B vitamin that is naturally found in food (folic acid is the synthetic form).
In addition to containing many cancer-fighting antioxidants, beets also help fight against heart disease. According to Joe and Terry Graedon of the People’s Pharmacy, beets have become the newest candidate for naturally lowering blood pressure. A study published recently in the journal Hypertension, cited by the pair, showed that two cups (500 ml) of beet juice lowered blood pressure by approximately 10 points. The Graedons note, “That is better than many prescription drugs.”
Apparently beets are high in dietary nitrate, which increases the amount of nitric oxide in the body. “Nitric Oxide (NO) helps blood vessels relax,” say the Graedons, “lowering blood pressure. Nitric Oxide (NO) has anti-inflammatory activity and discourages blood-clot formation.”
So eat your beets! You can even pick up a package of pre-boiled and peeled beets at your local grocery. If borscht isn’t exactly your thing, you can also try beets in a salad with walnuts and blue cheese. Mmmm!
Collis, Sweet Life staff
[Source: “Newest remedy? Beets,” The News & Observer, Sunday, March 2, 2008, p. 10D.]
