6 Healthy Reasons to Drink Beet Juice

(NaturalHealth365) Beets have been around since ancient times, growing along the coastlines of Asia, North Africa and Europe. At one time, only the greens of the beet plant were eaten but, now, beet juice is quite popular as well.

While beets are enjoyed for their sweet, appealing taste, many people still remain uneducated about the tremendous health benefits of beets and beet juice.  If your healthcare provider does NOT understand what you’re about to read (below) – we suggest you find another  doctor that appreciates the power of good nutrition for disease prevention.

Here are the 6 best reasons to start drinking beet juice – today

1. A delicious way to avoid chronic inflammation

In addition to protecting cells, enzymes and proteins from environmental stress, beets can also help to reduce chronic inflammation – which is know to destroy proper cell function that sets the stage for disease.  The nutrition found inside beets help us to protect internal organs, improving vascular health, and prevent a wide range of chronic diseases.

It’s the betaine pigments – inside beets – that seems to facilitate this effect.  At lease 8 ounces per day is a good place to start – just don’t be surprised if you see color changes to your urine and/or stool.

2. Safely remove unwanted toxins from the body

The health benefits of beets also include strong support for the detoxification pathways of the body. Toxins that have been broken down are assisted in binding to molecules for excretion from the body.

In this way, beets and beet juice help to cleanse the liver and purify the blood.  Drinking beet juice will help us avoid disease because the immune system gets more of the nutrients needed to work effectively.

3. Lowers blood pressure naturally

Beet juice has also been found to help lower blood pressure in just a matter of hours.  In fact, just onne glass of beet juice can lower systolic blood pressure by up to 5 points, according to one study.

The blood pressure lowering effect is most likely due to the nitrate content of beets – which helps to dilate and relax the blood vessels and improve blood flow.  A word of caution: if you’re taking any prescription medication for hypertension, be sure to work with a medical professional that understands nutrition and its effects on the body.

4. Super anticancer effects

Phytonutrients in beets are what give them their deep red color.  In addition, they are believed to give beets their ability to prevent cancer and even help to kill cancer cells.  Beet root extract has been found to reduce multi-organ tumor formations and is showing promise in the treatment of breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers.

5. Great way to increase your vitamins and fiber intake

Beets are also high in essential nutrients like vitamin C, folate, manganese and potassium, making them effective in supporting nerve, muscle and bone health. Beets are rich in fiber, which supports digestive tract health and a feeling of satiety after eating them.

Beet greens, found on the tops of the plant, are also loaded with vitamins. They contain phosphorus, zinc, vitamin B6, fiber, magnesium, copper, potassium, manganese, vitamin A, calcium, iron, and vegetarian protein.  Plus, because of their nutritional content, beet greens help to support the immune system and offer protection against degenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.

6. Boost your energy and endurance

Beets are also valuable for athletes, fitness enthusiasts, or anyone who would like an extra boost of energy and endurance throughout the day. Persons drinking beet juice before a workout were found to have the ability to exercise as much as 16 percent longer, according to one study.

The nitrate content in beets is believed to help reduce the oxygen cost of both low- and high-intensity exercise.

Great food tip: Beets are delicious sliced on salads and sandwiches or cooked into soups and stews. Drinking beet juice daily or using a powdered concentrate are also effective ways to help prevent cancer and experience the many health benefits of beets.

Editor’s note: The NaturalHealth365 Store offers a wide variety of organic superfoods powders – including beetroot.  Click here to shop now.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23231777

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22414688

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23828331

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25998421

http://www.naturalhealth365.com/benefits-of-beets-beat-cancer-1476.html

http://www.naturalhealth365.com/reduce-blood-pressure-benefits-of-beet-juice-1306.html

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/01/25/beets-health-benefits.aspx