This week it’s beetroot health benefits from Kat’s Kitchen as I continue to focus on autumn seasonal vegetables. And, I think they are probably one of my favourite things to eat!!! I simply love beetroot. The beautiful rich colour, the slightly earthy taste, and I am sure I feel healthier just eating it!
Beetroot belongs to the same family as chard and spinach but here both the root and the leaves are eaten. Although typically a reddish, purple colour, beetroots can also come in a variety of different colours such as white or golden yellows.
Beetroot originated in North Africa and was first cultivated by the Romans. The commercial value of beetroots increased in the nineteenth century when it was discovered they could be converted into sugar!
They can be delicious eaten raw but are more typically cooked or pickled. They are the main ingredient of the borscht which is an Eastern European soup.
Here are some reasons to include beetroot in your diet:
Beetroot Health Benefits
- Support low blood pressure due to their levels of nitrates. In the body, nitrates are converted into nitric acid which dilates blood vessels causing blood pressure to drop
- Improve athletic performance – the nitrates improve the efficiency of mitochondria which are responsible for producing energy in cells
- They contain betalains which possess several anti-inflammatory properties.
- They are a great source of fibre so support improved digestive health, prevent constipation and inflammatory bowel disease.