Beets are delicious, red herbaceous plants that have been cheered for their health and wellness properties by researchers and natural veggie enthusiasts worldwide. These tasty vegetables are excellent sources of folate, magnesium, fiber, copper, potassium, manganese, vitamin C, iron and many more essential vitamins and minerals.
The wide array of nutrients beets offer can assist you in protecting your mental and physical health. Beets are natural powerhouses that protect against oxidative stress, inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and an assortment of serious health conditions and diseases. Getting the information you need to begin adding beet juice smoothies into your diet is important, so here are a few amazing health benefits beets offer with a few delicious smoothie recipes to try out on those hot summer days.
Protect against oxidative stress
Beets are a source of antioxidants, which have been known to fight against oxidative stress and hunt down the free radical pirates in your body, thus protecting cells from damage. Oxidative stress and damage has been the suspect in various diseases. A few of the more serious diseases thought to be associated with oxidative stress are cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease.
Oxidative stress causes free radicals to run wild in your body and destroy cells. A 2015 study published in Nutrients suggests, “A number of studies report that beetroot, in the form of a juice supplement, protects against oxidative damage to DNA, lipid and protein structures in vitro.” Beet juice is an essential veggie, fighting all things unhealthy in your body. Adding a beet juice smoothie to your weekly diet is an excellent starting point to a healthier body and mind.
Take down oxidative stress with a beet-strawberry blast!
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Beet-Strawberry Blast
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| Prep Time: |
| 5minutes |
| Cook Time: |
| nocook |
| Total time: |
- 1 beet (peeled and chopped)
- 1slice of ginger (about an inch)
- 1cup fresh strawberries (halved)
- ice
- After you have prepped your fresh and tasty ingredients, begin with your beet and ginger slice. Blend until the consistency is smooth and then add your strawberries and ice. The amount of ice you use is based on preference. Once blended, pour and enjoy!
Beets are nature’s anti-inflammatory
Nature usually provides us with medicine right under our noses, and with a bit of research and knowledge, we can find them and put them to use. Beets are one of nature’s medicinal gems that we can easily snag at our local farmer’s market or grocery store.
Inflammation may be seen as a minor issue, however, chronic inflammation is thought to be linked to liver disease, cancer, heart disease and obesity. Chronic inflammation is normally treated by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and though effective in medical terms, the overall effects of these pharmaceutical drugs may adversely affect you in other ways. Due to the overwhelming number of side effects and contraindications associated with NSAIDS, research is turning to beets and what nature has to offer.
Research published in Phytotherapy Research (2009) found, “These natural products (in both the liquid and solid state) have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity, and could be an important adjunct in the treatment of obesity.” Beet juice smoothies can help fight against inflammatory issues, which in turn are associated with obesity by inhibiting oxidative metabolism. Kicking inflammatory diseases to the curb and controlling weight are essential to your health — drinking a delicious beet smoothie is a win-win!
Take down inflammation with a nutty raspberry-beet twist!
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Nutty Raspberry-Beet Twist
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| Prep Time: |
| 5minutes |
| Cook Time: |
| nocook |
| Total time: |
- 1 beet (peeled and chopped)
- 1/4cup almonds
- 1cup fresh raspberries
- ice
- Blend your beet and almonds first, creating a finely chopped mixture. Adding a little water may help get your blend just right. After your beet and almonds are happily settled, add your raspberries and ice to finish this flavorful beet juice smoothie. Serve with a few almonds on top for creativity points with your family or guests.
Improve your vascular function
Beets can be described as a superfood or powerhouse. Consuming a beet juice smoothie can protect you against hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease, as well as other undesirable health problems. Beets have been thought to protect your endothelial function, which in turn keeps your vascular system a well-oiled machine. Endothelial dysfunction is an imbalance in your vascular system that can cause a number of vascular problems; however, beets are once again your allies in this healthy fight.
A 2013 study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology discusses beets as being a dietary nitrate that defends against various vascular diseases by increasing nitrate levels in your body. This research stated, “Dietary nitrate has been demonstrated to have a range of beneficial vascular effects, including reducing blood pressure, inhibiting platelet aggregation, preserving or improving endothelial dysfunction, enhancing exercise performance in healthy individuals and patients with peripheral arterial disease.”
Boost your vascular function with a V-beet delight!
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V-beet Delight
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| Prep Time: |
| 5minutes |
| Cook Time: |
| nocook |
| Total time: |
- 1 beet (peeled and chopped)
- 2cups purple grapes
- 2fresh oranges (peeled)
- ice
- Once you have enthusiastically prepped your always fresh ingredients, plop them into your blender and mix slowly until the beet, grapes and oranges combine together evenly. Once the tasty ingredients are ready, add ice as desired and get your smoothie on! Serve and enjoy with an orange slice to garnish this frosty beet smoothie delight.
It is always a good idea to take a long, hard look at your diet and ponder what you are really putting in your body. Your body is your temple, and it is essential to keep your temple clean and structurally sound so that you can look and feel good. With summer hot on your heels, bust out your blender and mix up a delicious beet juice smoothie that will tantalize your taste buds while protecting you against unwanted health issues.
—Stephen Seifert
Stephen Seifert is a writer, professor, adventurer and a health & fitness guru. His flare for travel and outdoor adventure allows him to enjoy culture and traditions different than his own. A healthy diet, routine fitness and constant mental development is the cornerstone to Stephen’s life.
Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4425174
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18814207
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3575935
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20462192
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20195764
