Are boiled beets, juice of boiled beets useful and what is the use of them? Is it better to cook or leave it raw? Beets - the benefits and harm to the body in raw and cooked form

Raw beetroot in the diet is a new and unusual product. More familiar to humans cooking(boiling, frying, stewing or baking). But moderate use It is a raw vegetable that will significantly improve health. Root vegetables taste sweet due to the high content of sucrose. Maximum benefit for health can be obtained by including a raw vegetable in vitamin salads.

Chemical composition of fresh and cooked vegetables

If most vegetables lose most of the useful trace elements and vitamins during cooking, then beets in this case are a happy exception. The only thing that necessarily changes is the calorie content. A raw vegetable has 40 kcal per 100 g, and a boiled vegetable has 49 kcal.

Reference. The root crop in any form contains beta-carotene, di- and monosaccharides, dietary fiber, organic acids, starch and water. These substances help to improve digestion, improve the general condition.

Raw beets- Diet vegetable. For 100 g of product there are:

1.5 g proteins;
8.8 g of carbohydrates;
0.1 g fat.

What is the harmfulness?

Beets contain chlorine, the excess of which causes irritation in the mucous membrane. A symptom of this phenomenon is perspiration and pinching in the throat (especially when eating a raw vegetable for the first time). These signs usually pass quickly. If the burning process in the nasopharynx is prolonged and acute, this is a symptom of the onset of an allergic reaction to raw product. Allergies can occur in the form of skin rashes, swelling of the nasopharynx, swollen lymph nodes, chills and fever.

It is forbidden to combine raw beets and garlic, as this increases the load on the heart. Nitrates can accumulate in the tops of the root crop if the vegetable grows in ecologically disadvantaged regions. Nitrates provoke poisoning of the body. It accumulates in the area near the tops. Therefore, before eating, be sure to cut off the top.

Read more about how much and in what form it is better to eat beets, as well as what are the benefits and harms of using it for human health, read.

Contraindications for use

Important! Raw beets can harm people suffering from acute illnesses gastrointestinal tract, as well as internal bleeding. Heartburn, colitis, gastritis with high acidity, irritable bowel syndrome, flatulence - with such ailments, dishes from raw beets are prohibited.

But for the purpose of combination therapy, microdoses of beetroot juice can be prescribed.

You can talk forever about the benefits and harms of beets. Any Russian person from childhood is well aware of this root crop, the beneficial properties of which were highly valued in the old days. We are used to seeing it as a mandatory component in such familiar dishes as beetroot, vinaigrette, herring under a fur coat, and in restaurants you can find real culinary delights from beets: marmalade, sorbet, ice cream and many delicious salads.

The composition and calorie content of beets

Beetroot is a vegetable with a very rich composition. A real "pharmacy" that allows you to improve your health, which includes substances such as:

Di- and monosaccharides
Alimentary fiber
Starch
Organic acids that contribute to the normalization of digestion
beta carotene

100 grams of beetroot contains:

Proteins - 1.5 grams
Fats - 0.1 grams
Carbohydrates - 8.8 grams

As for calories, it is important to consider 2 key aspects:

Raw beets have only 40 calories (of course, per 100 grams).
If we are talking about a boiled vegetable, then here the numbers increase slightly - 49 kcal.

In any case, it is a complete dietary product, which also contains many vitamins and useful elements (micro-, macro-):

This is far from complete list, although it may seem that the entire periodic table is listed here. In fact, the composition of the vegetable includes a complex of amino acids, including:

Histidine
betanine
Arginine and others.

When cooking the product in beets does not decrease the amount of nutrients, there is no transformation of the composition, so the vegetable is useful in any form.

The benefits of beets for the human body (fruits, juice, tops)

Of course, in the composition of dishes, the benefits of beets are somewhat reduced, therefore, for health and medicinal purposes, it is better to eat raw or boiled, make freshly squeezed juice or decoction from it, and also use beet tops for food.

Why buy a dozen expensive drugs in a pharmacy if excellent healing agent grows in almost every garden and lies in abundance on store shelves! Given the numerous medicinal properties of beets, you should definitely allocate a place for it on your site and add this wonderful root crop to your diet more often.

Video about the beneficial properties of beets

The medicinal properties of red beets were recognized by Hippocrates. This root vegetable was used to treat skin inflammations and infectious diseases, and Dr. Paracelsus successfully treated various blood diseases with the help of beets, including iron deficiency anemia.

There are not as many vitamins in beets as in carrots or bell peppers, but beet leaves are good source vitamin A, while root crops contain vitamin B9 in sufficient quantities, thanks to which beets are very useful for the prevention of heart disease. There are even separate varieties of Swiss chard (for example, Chard or some fodder varieties). And in terms of the presence of iodine, iron and zinc, the root crop is significantly superior to other vegetables, being the best natural medicine for problems with hematopoiesis, in violation of the function of the sex glands and metabolism.

Beet leaves are a good source of vitamin A

The rich chemical composition, which includes amino acids, organic acids, bioflavonoids, pectins, glucose, fructose, minerals and trace elements, provides the unique properties of beets.

Beets are useful because:

prevents anemia and promotes the production of hemoglobin;
helps to create new cells in the body, providing a rejuvenating effect;
improves digestion and intestinal motility;
improves metabolism and, consequently, helps with smooth weight loss;
eliminates toxins;
reduces the risk of occurrence and reduces the growth of malignant tumors;
cleanses blood vessels;
helps in the treatment of hypertension and atherosclerosis;
stimulates sexual activity in men;
relieves premenstrual pain for women;
has a laxative and diuretic effect;
has an anti-inflammatory effect;
anesthetizes, promotes recovery;
helps to cope with depression;
increases the endurance of the body;
helps to preserve the health of vision;
indispensable for diseases of the thyroid gland due to the record amount of iodine.

Beetroot, which has only 40 calories, occupies an important place in the diet.

It is especially useful to use beets and dishes from it during pregnancy, because there are so many iron, iodine and iodine necessary for bearing a child. folic acid! Yes, and increased intestinal motility with the destruction of putrefactive bacteria with the help of a root during this period will be very helpful.

Beets, whose caloric content is only 40 kcal, occupy an important place in dietary nutrition. Dishes from it are tasty, satisfy hunger well, but at the same time they are low in calories and cleanse the body well, helping to cope with obesity.

Raw or boiled?

There are adherents of eating only boiled vegetables, someone believes that raw beets cannot be better. We offer to figure out who can and cannot use both options, what are the objective advantages of the chosen form of use.

boiled vegetable

It is no secret that most vegetables tend to lose their beneficial qualities during the heat treatment process. Beets are a welcome exception to the rule. Even boiled, it perfectly preserves all minerals with vitamins. The only transformation that happens to it is a slight increase in calories.

Since beets contain enough iron, it helps to quickly restore blood loss and effectively fight diseases such as anemia. That is why women are advised to menstrual bleeding regularly consume beets, including boiled ones. The presence of boron in the composition contributes to the production of hormones. You can continue this list for a long time, since the beneficial properties of the vegetable after cooking will not differ in any way from the properties of the raw one.

As for the bans. There are some nuances here. With the abuse of boiled beets, you can come to such a problem as lowering the natural level of absorption of calcium by the body. For this reason, it is not recommended to use boiled beets people with a deficiency of this substance. Otherwise, the list of contraindications is 100% similar to the prohibitions for a raw vegetable (you will get to know them below).

fresh vegetable

It is rare to find skeptics about eating raw beets. Since childhood, we have been familiar with salads, in which, among other things, this vegetable is present. This is not surprising, given the objective health benefits there are if you decide to eat raw beets:

Anti-inflammatory properties, both externally and internally.
A natural antioxidant that removes accumulated toxins from the body, salts with cholesterol, protecting in parallel from negative radioactive effects.
Beneficial effect on the digestive tract.
Improving the activity of the cardiovascular system.
Restoration and renewal of liver cells.
Strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis when consumed wisely.
Comprehensive strengthening of the immune system.
Improving the state of vision.
An increase in energy reserves and performance is a natural “doping”.
Excellent prevention of prostate adenoma.

The benefits of beets during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Women who are preparing to become mothers, as well as those who practice breastfeeding, should pay attention to beets and be sure to eat them. As already noted, this vegetable contains a lot of vitamins and other useful components, which are so necessary for the body in a similar state:

Folic acid is indispensable for preventing malformations of the baby in the womb. It helps to develop the child's central nervous system normally.
Thanks to iron, you can forget about its lack, which many pregnant women face. Plus the element helps to exclude oxygen starvation fetus, as it saturates the blood with oxygen.
No one will argue that iodine is extremely important during pregnancy and lactation, and it is also found in beets. This is especially important for those women who have problems with the thyroid gland.
Practice shows that with high blood pressure, beets can act as “pills” to lower these indicators.

However, beets should be treated with caution by those mothers who are prone to indigestion or suffer from diabetes.

Benefits of beets for weight loss

Often, beets are found as a basic ingredient in mono-diets for a couple of days. This is not surprising, given the composition of the vegetable. In terms of weight loss, elements such as:

Iron
Potassium

Among the main advantages of introducing beets into the diet of losing weight:

Thanks to betaine, protein is better absorbed in the body, coming from food.
Reception of beets before meals can significantly reduce the feeling of hunger and get a quick satiety.
Since there is enough fiber in beets, it increases in volume in the stomach without being digested, giving signals about the absence of hunger.
Acceleration of metabolism.
Removal of toxins and other harmful substances.
Both raw beetroot and boiled beetroot help fight fat accumulation (curcumin is responsible for this) while respecting the basics of PP.

The benefits of beets for pancreatitis and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

We have already listed positive traits beets and its effect on the body. Naturally, this also affects the scope of the gastrointestinal tract. People suffering from pancreatitis and other gastrointestinal diseases can count on the help of beets, as it:

Prevents development in the body pathogenic bacteria and microbes.
Removal of toxins from the intestines.
With the help of a root crop, you can prepare a composition for getting rid of Giardia.
Beets are indispensable for getting rid of constipation.
Regular use of vegetables in food allows you to improve the activity of the digestive organs in a complex.

Contraindications and potential harm for women and men

It would be wrong to say that a vegetable is unhealthy. In fact, beetroot harm can only occur if it is thoughtlessly consumed. large quantities with certain health problems.

Beets interfere with calcium absorption

So, you should not get carried away with either raw or boiled beets for gastritis with high acidity, since this root crop can further increase the acidity of the stomach. At diabetes It is also advisable to limit the consumption of vegetables, because it contains a considerable amount of sugars. And if red beets are beneficial for chronic constipation, then for chronic diarrhea it is definitely not worth it, so as not to aggravate the situation, especially in old age.

It is undesirable to drink fresh root vegetable juice for gout, rheumatoid arthritis, intestinal disorders and low blood pressure.

Keep in mind that beets interfere with calcium absorption. This is especially true for osteoporosis or a predisposition to it, but pregnant women should definitely pay attention to given property beets and do not eat it excessively.

Beets are completely contraindicated when urolithiasis due to the content of oxalic acid. Despite the folk recipes found on the Internet for the treatment of stones in the bladder and kidneys with beet juice, it is strongly not recommended to do this!

The amazing medicinal properties of beets are preserved even during long-term winter storage.

Where is more useful properties: raw, boiled, baked, steamed, fried or in fresh juice

The most strongly beneficial properties of beets are manifested in freshly squeezed juice. All vitamins and minerals in the juice of root crops are contained in a concentrated form. Such juice is useful for severe fatigue, beriberi, with a lack of hemoglobin, constipation, and also for the purpose of general cleansing of the body and removal of toxins. Drink fresh juice beets at the first sign of a cold helps the body to immediately cope with the disease.

But pure beetroot juice too saturated, so it is usually mixed with carrot juice in a ratio of 1 to 10, over time increasing the amount of beetroot juice to half a glass. When cooking vegetable juice first, beet roots are squeezed out so that the juice settles a little, and only after a couple of hours the carrots are squeezed out. In case of hypertension, it is better to drink table beet juice with a diluted spoonful of honey.

You can use juice squeezed from beet root crops to treat a cold: in this case, a little fermented juice is instilled three times a day in each nostril, two or three drops.

The most powerful properties of beets are manifested in freshly squeezed juice.

Other options for eating beets:

the most useful is raw beets, but it should be eaten in small portions, otherwise problems with the gastrointestinal tract are possible. You can reduce the active effect of a raw vegetable if you grate it and let it stand for a while or mix it with other vegetables in a salad;
boiled, baked and stewed root vegetables are recommended for constipation, digestive disorders, diseases of the gallbladder and liver, boiled beets can also be eaten by patients with diabetes;
dishes with beets help in the treatment of atherosclerosis and obesity, the fruits baked in the oven are especially tasty (sometimes they are made in the microwave, which is less useful, but comes out faster than with the oven);
pickled and pickled beets have long been used as the best remedy for scurvy;
beet tops are very useful to add to salads, soups, casseroles or soak dried in wine vinegar - in autumn, beet greens contain more vitamins, minerals and protein than root vegetables. Often, useful kvass is made from the leaves;
for constipation, grated boiled beets are seasoned with olive oil and used as a mild laxative at night;
externally, gruel from the raw fruit is applied to ulcers and cracks, changing the compress as it dries. Masks with the addition of a vegetable have a beneficial effect on the skin in the presence of teenage acne.

Korean-style beetroot will be a pleasant snack for lovers of spicy, as well as grated fruit in combination with horseradish. However, remember that there are very few health benefits in such products!

Video about the benefits of beets

What to combine root vegetables in salads and other dishes

most popular and useful combinations may be like this:

juice of beets, apples and carrots (taken in the morning on an empty stomach);
root vegetable with sour cream and garlic (there are options with mayonnaise, but this product is clearly not good for health);
salad with root vegetables, nuts and prunes - a real delicacy and good for the intestines;

The amazing medicinal properties of beets are preserved even during long-term winter storage. So, in the spring, when the body is experiencing a particular lack of vitamins and useful trace elements, the root crop can become a real life-saving remedy for improving health! Therefore, the question of what is more in beets - benefit or harm, is now much easier to answer.

Useful recipes to remember

If you study the recipes traditional medicine, then you can find many options with the inclusion of sugar beets, as well as those where it acts as the main ingredient. Here are some very simple and effective recipes for different life situations.

Hypertensive patients can mix ¼ of freshly squeezed beet juice with a teaspoon of flower honey and drink before meals to reduce pressure.
Got a runny nose? No problem! Wait until the beet juice turns sour, and then instill it into the nasal passages 3 times a day, 2 drops.
With scurvy, it is recommended to cook and eat pickled beets. You can cook it according to the traditional recipe.
You can also treat ulcers with the support of the described vegetable. Grate the beets to make a gruel, and apply on the affected skin.
Wait for the mixture to dry and change the bandage. This recipe, by the way, is good for acne in adolescence.

The material was updated on 02/28/2018

Pleasant taste, medicinal properties and affordability made beets indispensable product for cooking not only everyday, but also festive dishes. However, even experienced housewives may not know how important it is to take into account both the benefits and harms of beets, since excessive passion for a vegetable can cause malaise.

Is it true that such a popular root crop poses a threat to health, let's try to figure it out.

The composition and calorie content of beets

The nutritional and medicinal value of beets was discovered by the inhabitants of the Mediterranean several millennia BC.

Initially, the plant was eaten in the wild, but over time, cultural forms of the root crop were also bred. By the beginning of the 11th century, beets appeared on the territory Kievan Rus and gradually gained mass distribution around the world.

The beneficial effect of beets on the body was noted by ancient gourmets. However, scientific confirmation unique properties vegetable was obtained only in our time.

The therapeutic potential of beets is due to the presence of valuable substances and elements in its composition:

vitamins - group B, (folic and pantothenic acid, niacin), natural antioxidants and antiseptics A and C, PP (niacin equivalent), K (phylloquinone);
minerals - iodine, iron, calcium, copper, potassium, magnesium, zinc, sulfur, cobalt, rubidium, cesium, chlorine, phosphorus, boron, vanadium, silicon, quartz;
fiber and organic acids - citric, oleanolic, malic, lactic, tartaric, oxalic;
carotenoids;
flavonoids.

In addition, 100 g of beets contain 8.8 g of carbohydrates (sucrose, glucose, fructose, pectins), 1.5 g of proteins (betaine, lysine, arginine, valine, histidine), 0.1 g of fat and 40 kilocalories.

Health benefits and harms

The biochemical potential of beets makes it possible to successfully use the vegetable not only for prevention, but also for the treatment of a huge number of ailments. healing power root crop is expressed in a healing effect on all systems of the human body.

Organs of the gastrointestinal tract. Thanks to fiber and organic acids, normalize metabolic processes, the work of the stomach and digestion improves, peristalsis increases and even chronic constipation. Pectin substances suppress vital activity putrefactive microorganisms, contributing to the normalization of microflora and natural cleansing of the intestines.

Metabolism. Betaine in the composition of beets refers to lipotropic substances that provide a natural level of lipid and cholesterol metabolism. Lipotropics have the ability to regulate blood cholesterol levels, as well as stimulate the removal of fats from liver cells, preventing fatty infiltration of the organ and the formation of cholesterol stones in the bile ducts.

Vessels and heart. A large amount of magnesium helps to strengthen the heart muscle, prevents the development of atherosclerosis, and reduces the risk of hypertension.

Immunity. Vitamin C and provitamin beta-carotene enhance the protective potential, resist development tumor processes.

Hematopoiesis. B vitamins, iron, copper, phosphorus and cobalt improve blood formation processes, increase hemoglobin and the quality of blood composition, strengthen capillary walls, dissolve blood clots, purify the blood, improve heart function, prevent the development of anemia and leukemia.

The musculoskeletal system. The presence of quartz in the composition of beets is a guarantee of the strength and functionality of bone and cartilage tissues, as well as arteries and epidermis.

Brain and vision. Beetroot nitrates stimulate blood circulation, improving the nutrition and functioning of the brain and corneal cells. In addition, the zinc in the composition of beets strengthens the retina, preventing its detachment.

General well-being. Beetroot strengthens the nervous system, stabilizes the mental and emotional background, fights depression. Folic acid promotes cell regeneration, rejuvenates tissues.

Thyroid. work endocrine system maintains iodine in the composition of the root crop.

In addition, beetroot provides a urinary effect, normalizes kidney function, removes toxins, helps prevent the development of rickets in children, is used to treat scurvy, and also has a tonic effect in hangovers.

Both scientists and representatives official medicine we are sure that the benefits of beets for human health are exceptional, and other vegetables that can fully replace the root crop in the diet do not exist in nature.

Contraindications to the use of beets

Despite the powerful medicinal potential of the root crop, its use is not always justified, with medical point vision. Especially in large numbers.

The use of beets is contraindicated in:

exacerbation of gastritis and peptic ulcer. Patients with increased acidity of the stomach should be wary of dishes with a root crop;
kidney dysfunction and urolithiasis. Root oxalic acid promotes fluid crystallization and provokes exacerbations in the organs of the urinary system;
low pressure. Buryak causes a drop in blood pressure, provoking hypotension;
osteoporosis, since the root vegetable slows down the absorption of calcium by the body;
diarrhea and chronic indigestion. By enhancing intestinal peristalsis, beetroot stimulates additional laxative effect and worsens general well-being;
susceptibility to allergies. With individual susceptibility to the elements in the composition of the root crop, an allergic reaction may develop - skin rashes, swelling of the nasopharynx, enlarged lymph nodes;
rheumatoid arthritis and gout. It is not recommended to drink freshly squeezed vegetable juice - its action causes an exacerbation of inflammatory processes in the joints.

Patients with diabetes need to limit the consumption of beets - this is due to the large amount of sugar in the vegetable. Servings within 100 g are considered optimal.

In general, the possible harm from eating beets is minimized, since the root vegetable is used in small quantities and for cooking, consumed no more than once or twice a week.

Useful properties for women, men

A distinctive feature of the healing potential of beets lies in its ability to restore masculine strength and restore women's health.

Studies have shown that the substances contained in beets are extremely beneficial for female body. The root crop contains folic acid and valine, which have the ability to stabilize the hormonal background. Therefore, the use of beets is appropriate for any manifestations. hormonal imbalance- at premenstrual syndrome or during menopause.

But the root crop is especially useful for expectant mothers. Thanks to the regular use of beets by pregnant women, the fetus receives the minerals and amino acids necessary for development, which contributes to its development and provides correct formation and growth bone tissue. And the iron reserves in the composition of beets reduce the risk of developing fetal hypoxia.

In addition, beetroot improves the functionality of the genitourinary and digestive systems who experience increased stress during pregnancy.

Many women use the beneficial properties of beets for weight loss. In addition to the fact that root-based dishes stimulate metabolic processes and accelerate the breakdown of fats, beetroot diets provide saturation without increasing calories and overloading the stomach.

The benefits of beets for men's health

Along with a tonic and rejuvenating effect on the body of a man, beets are distinguished by the ability to restore male strength. The body of many men is weakened by exposure to nicotine and alcohol, which often affects potency.

Regular consumption of beets allows not only to neutralize the harmful effects of toxins, but also to restore erection and libido.

Moreover, the substances in the composition of the root crop effectively fight the formation of atypical cells, inhibiting their growth and development. Thus, beets prevent the occurrence of tumor processes in prostate adenoma - a disease that affects most men over the age of 50.

What is useful and harmful beet juice?

By drinking freshly squeezed beetroot juice, we saturate the body the maximum number useful substances contained in the vegetable, with the exception of fiber. However, it should be remembered that the concentration of trace elements in a glass of juice is several times higher than the norm obtained with a portion of any root dish.

Moreover, beetroot juice contains compounds that can aggressively affect internal organs.

Therefore, when treating with juice, doctors recommend adhering to the following rules to avoid an overdose of the active components of beets:

before use, the juice should stand for three hours. During this time, the most aggressive compounds will partially evaporate and decompose;
the maximum allowable volume of a drink per day cannot exceed 600 ml, and a single dose - 125 ml;
the root crop for juicing should be at room temperature;
the optimal therapeutic effect is provided by a drink drunk 15 minutes before a meal in small sips;
It is better to start taking beetroot juice with small portions. And making sure there is no side effects, the volume of a single serving can be increased;
it is not recommended to drink beetroot juice along with sour foods or products made from yeast dough.

Nutritionists believe that to strengthen therapeutic effect beetroot juice is possible if you use sweet vegetables and fruits - apples, celery or carrots to make a drink.

Which is healthier: boiled or raw beets?

Beets are one of those vegetables that are able to retain maximum useful properties even after heat treatment. The answer to the question of whether boiled beets are healthy is unambiguous - heating, boiling and baking the root crop does not affect either the mineral content or the amount of amino acids.

However, raw beetroot has an intense irritant effect on the intestinal mucosa, so patients with problems digestive tract You should be very careful about eating fresh vegetables.

Some nutritionists claim that boiled beets are healthier than fresh beets. This is not entirely true. Indeed, during cooking, some of the vitamins contained in the root crop are destroyed - C, B5 and B9 (that is, ascorbic, pantothenic and folic acid). Also, with prolonged heat treatment, beets lose most of the nitrates and fiber.

On the other hand, coarse fiber can injure the tissues of the mucous membrane of the esophagus, stomach and intestines with gastritis or peptic ulcer.

Useful substances of beets are better absorbed if taken in boiled form. Therefore, for diet food it is recommended to use only boiled beets.

Application in cosmetology

In the old days, girls used beets to enhance the rosiness of their cheeks. Nowadays, the properties of the root crop have found application not only in the decorative, but also in the medical direction of cosmetology.

As part of masks or compresses, beets do an excellent job of healing wounds, acne, ulcers, cracks and swelling. And beetroot juice is drunk to improve complexion.

To nourish oily skin, chicken yolk is added to the mask, to eliminate inflammation, a mask of raw beets and grated potatoes is applied to the face. It is recommended to wash off beetroot masks with milk, half diluted with water.

To moisturize the skin, use the following mixture: two teaspoons of beetroot juice, honey and strong black tea are boiled in a water bath and, after cooling, are applied in a thin layer on the face. Wash off after a quarter of an hour. warm water and moisturize with cream.

In addition, beetroot masks help strengthen hair follicles, eliminate dandruff and restore healthy strength and shine to the hair.

Culinary healthy recipes from the root vegetable

Regular use of beets in cooking brings health and good health the whole family. Borscht, beetroot, okroshka and botvinya are prepared from the root crop, as well as various snacks and vitamin salads.

A serving of grated boiled beets with apple and vegetable oil is a great dinner alternative for those who want to not only lose weight, but also improve their well-being.

Steam cutlets, puddings and casseroles - best opportunity diversify the diet of patients with pancreatitis.

In diseases of the liver, a decoction of the root crop is useful. To do this, finely chopped beets are boiled until the broth is completely thickened. Take three times a day, two large sips before meals.

Almost the full range of valuable properties of beets is preserved in sauerkraut. To do this, peeled and coarsely chopped root crops are placed in a three-liter sterilized jar, horseradish and cherry leaves, a few black peppercorns and a pinch of cinnamon are added and poured with marinade.

Preparation of the marinade: two liters of water, 100 g of coarse salt and 100 g of sugar are brought to a boil and cooled.

Beets, filled with brine and covered with gauze, are kept at room temperature for two days, and then cleaned in the cold for five days. When serving, season with vegetable oil.

Dishes from beets and beet leaf were valued in the aristocratic society of pre-revolutionary Russia. But in our time, the popularity of the vegetable has reached its true climax. The main thing to remember is that excess consumption always harms the body, even when it comes to such an impeccable root crop as beets.

Everyone knows that it is best to eat those foods that nature has given us, and not those that are made artificially with the help of chemistry. Red beets, the benefits and harms of this root crop - that's what will be discussed in this article.

Composition

Considering the topic “Beets: benefits and harms”, I would like to start with a list of those vitamins and beneficial trace elements that are contained in this food product. This:

B vitamins: B1, B2, B5, B6.
Vitamin A.
Vitamin C.
Vitamin E.

Also in large quantities in this root crop contains such useful substances as magnesium, manganese, copper and potassium. Compared to other foods, beets are rich in iodine, iron and zinc. The following information will also be important: scientists have proven that the natural nitrates contained in this root crop help to activate blood flow to the brain, thereby improving its performance qualitatively.

About calories

A few words should also be said about the calorie content of beets. After all this information may be useful topics people who use this product in diets.

Calorie content of beets - 40 kcal (per 100 grams), the amount of carbohydrates - 12%, protein - 1.5 grams.

Raw beets: benefits

So, raw beets. The benefits and harms of this root crop - that's what I want to talk about now. Why is he good?

Raw beets remove heavy metal salts and radionuclides from the human body.
The pigment betacyanin, which gives such a bright color to this vegetable, actively resists the formation cancer cells.
Betaine (a kind of vitamin) helps the liver, qualitatively improving its work. Also given element normalizes metabolic processes in the body.
Raw beets are an excellent prevention of diseases such as atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.
When using this root crop, the walls of blood vessels are perfectly strengthened, the condition of the capillaries improves.
Regular consumption of raw beets perfectly helps hypertensive patients to keep their blood pressure normal.

Contraindications

At this stage, I want to talk about exactly who is contraindicated in raw beets. The benefits and harms of this food product in without fail should be considered. Having studied all the useful aspects of this root crop, it is also worth saying that not all people can safely consume it.

Diabetics should eat this vegetable in small amounts, as it can increase blood sugar levels.
Due to the large amount of fiber in its composition, this raw root crop is contraindicated in people who have stomach problems. It is best to refuse to take it at the stage of exacerbation. In everyday life, it is best to consult an experienced gastroenterologist on the topic of raw beet consumption.
You can not eat beets with urolithiasis.
Raw beets are contraindicated in osteoporosis, because in this case, calcium may not be fully absorbed.
In excessive amounts, consumption of beets can cause cramps. blood vessels.

boiled beets

Boiled beets are also very useful. Benefit and harm this product nutrition in its various states is the main topic of this article.

You should not think that after heat treatment this root crop loses its important properties. This is an incorrect statement. In boiled form, it still contains iodine, sodium, iron, phosphorus. And the antioxidants that also remain in the cooked product are great for keeping the body active, coping with stress, and also fighting pathogens that can enter the body.

About the benefits of boiled beets

Improves the well-being of women during menstruation.
Helps stronger sex deal with the "male" problem.
Boiled beets contain vitamin U, which is useful for intestinal function.
Fiber helps cleanse the body of harmful substances.
Boiled beetroot has a laxative effect, so it is good to use it as a preventive measure against constipation.
The calorie content of boiled beets is only 45 kcal per 100 grams of product, so it can be eaten without fear by those people who are watching their figure.

Harm of boiled beets

Next, we will talk about who is contraindicated in boiled beets. The benefits and harms of this food product after heat treatment are very important information which must be told about. And if the pluses were mentioned above, now we will talk about who this boiled root crop is not recommended for use.

It is strictly forbidden to use this boiled root crop for those people who suffer chronic diarrhea. After all, beets have a laxative effect.
With great care, boiled beets should be eaten by those who suffer from gastritis, and also have problems with stomach acidity. Indeed, even after heat treatment, this vegetable increases the amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

Having understood the benefits and harms of boiled beets, you can move on to a product such as beetroot juice.

beetroot juice

You can also eat beetroot juice. The benefits and harms of this drink - I want to talk about this in more detail. It is worth clarifying that beet juice itself is very useful and has a wide field of application:

Perfectly cleanses the body of toxins and toxins.
Beetroot juice can cure a sore throat, as well as get rid of a runny nose.
This is great prophylactic from anemia and blood clots.
Beet juice perfectly helps hypertensive patients, lowering arterial pressure.
The juice from this root crop improves the functioning of the liver and kidneys.
The excretion of uric acid is another property of beetroot juice.
It also helps women cope with exclusively “lady's” problems: mastopathy, menopause. Also, beetroot juice is able to regulate the menstrual cycle.
The juice from this root crop is able to fight sleep disorders.
It also relieves hearing problems.

Harm of beet juice

Freshly squeezed beetroot juice has several contraindications for use, because it can cause headaches, nausea, and indigestion. To avoid this, this product should be consumed only in combination. It is best to drink beetroot juice along with carrot and celery juice.

Mixes

For the prevention of diseases such as cancer, heart attack, stomach ulcers and hypertension, beetroot juice is best mixed with apple juice in a one to one relationship.
To cleanse the liver and kidneys, you need to use the following mixture: beetroot and cranberry juice (proportion 1: 1) or beetroot juice and honey.
For those who want to lose weight, you need to make the following mix: beetroot, carrot, cucumber, grapefruit juice, as well as celery juice in equal proportions.
From hangover syndrome will help get rid of a mixture of beetroot juice, as well as orange, apple and carrot in equal amounts.
To improve vision, it is best to use carrot and beet juice.
In the fight against cancer, you can do different mixes. To help with the weakness of the body with such a disease, beetroot juice mixed with the juice of potatoes, apples and carrots will help. Also, in the fight against this problem, you can add horseradish and lemon juices (however, take only a third or fourth of these juices per one part of beetroot juice).

Decoctions

Now I want to consider a decoction of beets. The benefits and harms of this variation are a separate issue. So, decoctions can be made to gargle the throat with various diseases(including tonsillitis). You can also rinse and bury your nose with beetroot broth. With this use of this product, there are no contraindications.

Pregnancy and lactation

If a woman is completely healthy, then beets during the bearing of a baby are not contraindicated for her. Moreover, it can bring tangible benefits.

Beets fight well with common problem pregnant women - constipation. For this, it is good to consume it in boiled form.
This root crop has many vitamins and nutrients that are so necessary for a woman in interesting position and also the baby.

It is also worth saying that you should not be afraid to eat this food product during breastfeeding. It certainly won't harm the child.

Beets and children

It is also important for parents to know that eating beets in its various forms is very beneficial for a growing child's body. You can introduce it into complementary foods from the age of six months. However, this should be done carefully, tracing whether the child has allergic reactions. For a one-year-old baby, if there are no contraindications indicated by the doctor, beets are very useful. However, you need to remember that you should not give it to your child by force. If he does not like beets, it is better to give it up for a while.

In the assortment of vegetables there is a modest product that is grown without "chemistry". It has many gastronomic advantages. But they do not expect special healing qualities from him. After all, this is an ordinary beet, what benefits and harm can it bring? Now let's figure it out!

Feeds, heals, makes smarter - beetroot secrets

If we evaluate the benefits and harms of beets, it should be noted that both of these factors depend on chemical composition root crop. Despite the fact that it is considered an ordinary vegetable, there is something to talk about. Although this is not a citrus, beets contain a whole set of vitamins - C, A, E, PP, D, five representatives of group B. But such a vegetable is on our table all year round, therefore, in winter and early spring, it will provide the body with vitamins, that is, it will not allow hypovitaminosis to develop.

There are also valuable trace elements in beets (and in large quantities) - potassium, copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur. It leads among other garden products in terms of the amount of iron, iodine and zinc.

The root crop owes its rich red color to betanin. This pigment has antitumor properties, tidies up the metabolism and supports the liver. Another important ingredient is fiber.

Canadian scientists examined the composition of beets and found natural nitrates there. It turned out that these substances improve blood flow to the brain. It receives more oxygen and its performance is increased by 15%.

Important! People who regularly consume beets almost never suffer from anemia.

One medicinal property of this vegetable is known to everyone for sure - its use helps to normalize the stool. But the benefits of beets for the body are much wider.

Medicinal value of beets:

improves the functioning of blood vessels, makes them stronger and more elastic (since it reduces the content of homocysteine, which destroys them);
normalizes high blood pressure;
regulates fat metabolism;
serves to prevent atherosclerosis and hypertension;
has an anti-inflammatory effect, helps in the healing of ulcers;
is an powerful antioxidant, "cleanses" the body, frees it from toxins, toxins, salts of heavy metals;
restores liver cells, promotes their renewal;
removes swelling (removes excess fluid);
positively affects the digestive process;
activates intestinal motility, produces a mild laxative effect, treats constipation;
strengthens the immune system (as it replenishes vitamin C reserves);
increases efficiency and endurance;
improves visual acuity;
has a rejuvenating effect, activates the formation of new cells;
improves mood, increases stress resistance;
beets are indispensable for thyroid dysfunction;
prevents the development of colorectal cancer, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis.

Beetroot has a minimum calorie content - only 30-40 kcal per 100 g, so those who want to lose weight or just watch their figure can easily include it in their diet. Thanks to betanin, this product enhances fat utilization.

Important! How much beets can be contained in the diet of an adult? The benefits of such a product will be revealed if you adhere to next norm- 200-300 g per day.

Garden medicine for men and women

Beets - the first assistant for men's health. She has several medical "specializations" that will be useful to the representatives of the stronger sex.

The effect of beets on the body of a man:

with regular use, the risk of getting prostatitis is reduced;
its presence in the diet different form) prevents the appearance benign education(prostate adenoma);
raw vegetable has aphrodisiac properties (increases potency) and increases sexual desire;
freshly squeezed juice is rich in zinc, so its use has a positive effect on the reproductive capabilities of a man;
the beet menu is very useful for those who abuse alcohol or smoke a lot: the red root vegetable reduces the negative health effects of such bad habits.

And what is valuable for women beetroot vinaigrette (table)? Its benefits and harms are also associated with the presence of contraindications and a reasonable attitude towards such a product. Beetroot juice will improve the condition during critical days, and pregnant women will help to solve the problem of constipation. Future mother it is worth paying attention to this garden "beauty" also because it contains folic acid, which ensures the proper formation of organs and systems of the fetus, as well as iron.

For whom is the burgundy root crop harmful?

It's hard to believe, but beetroot is not allowed for everyone, and for some it is even dangerous.

Diseases in which it is better to refrain from eating beets:

hypotension - from such a vegetable, the pressure can drop even lower;
high acidity gastric juice- both raw and boiled, beets increase acidity;
diabetes mellitus - it’s not for nothing that beets are called “sugar”, because the sugar content in such a root crop reaches 25%, so it is categorically not suitable for a diabetic menu;
urolithiasis - it contains oxalic acid, which is why you can not drink beetroot juice to dissolve stones, because this will only worsen the course of the disease;
osteoporosis - beets interfere with the absorption of calcium;
chronic diarrhea - it must be borne in mind that it weakens the intestines.

If you eat beets without heat treatment, there is a risk of developing an allergic reaction, which will manifest itself with symptoms such as a rash, swollen lymph nodes, swelling of the nasopharynx. Therefore, it is prohibited individual intolerance. Fresh beetroot juice is highly undesirable for gout and rheumatoid arthritis.

Which beet is more useful?

vegetable in in kind has a full spectrum healing properties. But with problems with the organs of the gastrointestinal tract (including gastritis), this “aggressive” component can negatively affect well-being. To reduce the activity of beets, you can use this trick: grate it and leave it for a while, or mix it with other ingredients in a salad.

Boiled, baked and stewed vegetable effectively eliminates constipation, is allowed for diabetes, diseases of the gallbladder and liver. After heat treatment, the root crop is deprived of vitamins, but does not lose its healing abilities. It reduces the likelihood of thrombosis, prevents strokes and hormonal disbalance, protects the liver from fatty degeneration, increases resistance to viral attack, helps hypertensive patients keep pressure under control.

An excellent snack is pickled or pickled beets, and this effective remedy from scurvy!

Most of all, the healing talents of such a vegetable are manifested in its juice. Beetroot fresh is a vitamin and mineral concentrate. It relieves fatigue, gives vigor, increases hemoglobin, facilitates bowel movements, cleanses the body of all kinds of "garbage". And if you take it at the first sign of a cold, you can recover as soon as possible.

Important! If you drink such a vegetable drink in excessive quantities or in its pure form (without diluting it with water), you may experience indigestion and nausea.

Do not cook, but treat!

Eating beets is a good habit, this in itself will have a positive effect on health, but in alternative medicine you can find special recommendations for its use, which will enhance the therapeutic effect of the root crop.

Beet treatment - recipes:

To reduce pressure, you need to drink 1 tbsp. l. beet juice from 3 to 4 r. per day.
To relieve inflammation and sore throat, you should mix beetroot juice with a small portion of the bite and rinse.
With atherosclerosis, cirrhosis, you need to drink ½ tbsp per day. juice in small sips.
Rhinitis, sinusitis - nasal passages should be instilled with juice.
For the treatment of mastopathy, you need to grate the vegetable on a fine grater, combine with honey, put the mixture on a clean cabbage leaf, attach it to the affected area with the treated side to the body.
If constipation is tortured, you should eat a boiled vegetable for 100-150 g.
With oncology, you need to drink 600 g (in 6 doses) of beetroot juice daily.

The benefits and harms of beets are directly related to individual features patient and his illnesses. The root crop is famous for its rich composition, improves the condition of patients with blood pathologies, helps to even out metabolic processes and hormonal background. With the help of beets, it is easier to lose weight, it reduces high blood pressure. Having a low calorie content (40 calories per 100 grams) is useful. But when boiled, it can harm diabetics due to its doubling. Its use in boiled form is not recommended for people with urolithiasis, diarrhea and the presence of low blood pressure. A raw root vegetable can become an allergen for people prone to this disease.

Even in ancient times, people noticed that the introduction of this root crop into their diet saves from infection with the plague and prevents the disease from spreading. All varieties of beets are divided into sugar, fodder varieties and ordinary beets. In the 20th century, red beets with a high iodine content became the most common. It is easy to grow and store, while the amount of nutrients does not decrease.

Root Ingredients:

Minerals (phosphorus, potassium, manganese, iodine, etc.);
Pectin;
B vitamins, nicotinic acid, etc.;
Amino acids;
organic acids;
Sucrose, glucose, etc.

For all its rich composition, it has a low calorie content; 100 grams of a vegetable contains only forty calories. This helps to use it as a dietary product that will saturate the body with complete substances and trace elements.

Raw beets

The root crop in its raw form is able to remove salts heavy metals and radionuclides. And a brightly colored pigment called betacyanin can be used as preventive measure to prevent oncology. Raw beetroot helps relieve excess stress on the liver and improves metabolic processes. This is an invaluable aid in weight loss and diets.

Raw beets contribute to the prevention of osteoporosis and atherosclerosis.

And also it can be used to eliminate heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. If you eat it often, then the vegetable helps to make blood vessels stronger, while positively affecting the capillaries. Hypertensive patients can control their pressure when supplementing the diet with this product. It improves blood circulation of the brain, improves human performance, makes the body more resilient. Helps people suffering from chronic constipation by acting as a mild natural laxative.

Good to use in spring period. It boosts immunity and prevents viral diseases saturates the body with minerals and vitamins.

In addition, it is recommended for people with low vision. She keeps the job visual system. The role of the root in anemia, a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood and a violation of hematopoiesis is also important. The product improves performance reproductive system and relieves cramps in the premenstrual period in women. The vegetable can be used as a cure for depression, a diuretic. It rejuvenates the body cellular level. Improves the functioning of the thyroid gland high content iodine and eliminates inflammation on the skin.

Beets in large quantities bring not only benefits, but also harm. Eating it raw is not recommended for everyone. It should not be used by diabetics because of possible increase blood sugar levels. If a person has diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, then due to great content you can harm yourself in the product. You can not eat beets with kidney stones. Calcium may not be absorbed. There is no need to eat a lot of beets raw, because in some cases there are vasospasms.

boiled beets

The root crop is equally useful both boiled and raw, but boiled beets are better absorbed by the body. Its calorie content is low, which makes the vegetable indispensable for medical nutrition. And it can be eaten by people suffering from problems with the gastrointestinal tract. When cooking, all microelements and vitamins useful for the human body are preserved. A rich product improves blood formation processes, eliminates anemia, improves immunity, relieves irritation and fatigue. Beetroot helps eliminate iron deficiency, is the prevention of anemia.

Beets help normalize work nervous system, brain cells, improve mood.

And the folic acid in the composition of the vegetable contributes to full development fetus during pregnancy. Manganese contained in the vegetable improves the functioning of the central nervous system, improves metabolism in the body, prevents the body from premature aging and the formation of free radicals. Betaine helps to normalize the metabolism in the human body, improves liver function and promotes the absorption of vitamins and minerals.

The vegetable has the ability to normalize blood pressure in hypertensive patients, has an antioxidant effect and improves the functioning of the heart muscle. It has a laxative effect, it stimulates the cleansing of the body, removing toxins from it. Beetroot enhances intestinal motility, has a positive effect on diseases of the female genital area, relieves pain in premenstrual syndrome, and enhances male reproductive function.

Beets should be included in the diet for the treatment of the thyroid gland, due to the large amount of iodine.

Possessing a diuretic effect, the vegetable helps to remove salts of heavy metals, radionuclides, protects and restores liver cells. It can be used to prevent cancer, eliminate excess cholesterol in the body, strengthen the body if there is coronary disease and high blood pressure.

You can not eat a lot of boiled vegetables for people suffering from high acidity. Due to the content of oxalic acid in its composition, the root crop contributes to irritation of the mucous membranes. It is not recommended to eat it with reduced blood pressure, persistent diarrhea, kidney stones. If a person has diabetes, then the beet pulp is consumed in a minimal amount, because when cooked, its glycemic index increases by 2 times.

Many doctors and nutritionists consider this juice tasty and healthy. But, despite all its useful properties and advantages, it has a number of features that are harmful to humans. Beetroot juice is used to treat many pathologies and as a cleansing therapy for harmful salts and toxins.

It is easy for them to treat rhinitis by instilling a few drops into the nose with a pipette;
Juice is easy to eliminate thrombosis, eliminate anemia in a patient;
Like the pulp of a vegetable, its juice helps hypertensive patients keep their blood pressure normal;
It cleanses the kidneys and liver, restoring their cells, improving the functioning of the excretory system;
With the help of beetroot juice, it is easy to remove excess uric acid from the body, elimination of pain before the onset of menstruation and during menopause;
It even helps to treat sleep disorders and improve hearing.

If you drink a lot of beetroot juice, then nausea, migraines can begin, in some cases it provokes an upset stomach and intestines. To avoid these unpleasant moments It is recommended not to drink it in its pure form, but to mix it with other juices. It is best to use mixing with celery or carrot juice.

Fresh recipe from celery, carrots and beets

Carrot juice contains beta-carotene, which helps to improve vision, vitaminizes the body, filling it minerals. It is very useful for boosting immunity. Beetroot juice relieves depression and fatigue. After juice therapy with him, a person begins to be less irritated, tired. It is very useful for people with problems in the hematopoietic system, problems with the thyroid gland. Celery juice improves blood quality due to magnesium and iron in its composition. It removes toxins from the body, prevents people from aging prematurely, rejuvenating at the cellular level.

Due to its rich composition, fresh juices based on these juices do not provide extra calories, do not contain sugar, and do not provoke the release of insulin into the blood.

Thanks to the vegetable fiber in the pulp of vegetables, the release of energy does not occur instantly, but gradually. With the constant use of vegetable juices, the intestinal flora is normalized, they help to eliminate dysbacteriosis. We clean vegetables, rub or immerse in a blender. We take juices in the following proportion: 70 ml of celery, 70 ml of beetroot, 200 grams of carrot juice. You can mix in other proportions, the main thing is that carrot juice was three times more than the others. Stir the juice, pour into glasses and serve.

We take one beet, three medium-sized carrots, 100 grams cabbage leaves, lemon juice, salt, oil for dressing. We rub the vegetables, crush them with our hands so that more juice stands out, and the salad is not dry. Salt the dish, mix, sprinkle lemon juice And . Low calorie content will enrich the monotonous diet with a recipe.

We take two fresh root crops, three carrots, three yellow apples, lemon juice. On a coarse grater, rub all the salad ingredients, knead with your hands. Top with lemon juice and stir. We do not salt, but you can add a little liquid honey or sugar.

We take two beets, a little cabbage, four teaspoons, yellow apples, two kohlrabi cabbages, herbs, lemon juice. First of all, three kohlrabi, if desired, replace it with a radish. Then we rub apples and beets on a coarse grater. Finely chop the cabbage, combine with other ingredients, sprinkle with lemon juice. Shred greens, pour on top, mix and pour vegetable oil.

To prepare this recipe, we need two hundred grams of prunes, the same number of kernels walnut, 250 grams of low-fat unsweetened yogurt, a little liquid honey. Three raw root vegetable. We steam the prunes in boiling water for an hour, drain, dry with a napkin, then finely chop. We combine the components of the salad and pour over with yogurt, flavoring with a spoonful of honey.

beets so unique vegetable that it is necessary to learn as much as possible about it in order to expand its application. "Useful properties of beets" - an article for everyone interested in this product.

To the beets with reverence

Let's admit that we treat beetroot as the most ordinary product, because we are little aware of its unique beneficial properties.

We use vegetables to make borscht, vinaigrette, herring under a fur coat, that's probably all, without thinking at all about its value.

And it contains a lot of elements important for a person:

- A, B1, B2, B3, B9, C, E;
macroelements - calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium;
trace elements - iron, copper, zinc, fluorine, iodine, manganese, folic acid.

Beetroot for external use

The crushed pulp of the fetus is capable of miraculous healing from:

skin cracks;
burns - root juice anesthetizes, prevents inflammation, promotes regeneration of the skin structure;

It is enough to apply the pulp of the vegetable to the sore spot.

The benefits of beets for weight loss and weight loss

This most valuable property of the fruit will attract the attention of donuts and fatties. Anyone who often uses a red product not only rarely turns to doctors with complaints about the heart and blood vessels, but also quickly loses extra pounds.

For weight loss, you should use not only root crops, but also tops. Betaine, which promotes the complete absorption of proteins, helps fight obesity. In addition, the fetus normalizes the functioning of the liver, which means that the body is better cleansed of all harmful accumulations.

The red root crop has a low calorie content, 100 g contains only 42 kcal. In addition, it contains a lot of fiber, pectins, which, like a broom, cleanse the intestinal walls from harmful layers.

Recipes from traditional healers

Mix in equal parts honey, carrot juice, beetroot and cognac. Take the remedy half an hour before meals for half a cup, you will get rid of Giardia.

beetroot decoction

Beetroot decoction will help to gently cleanse the liver:

Peel the root crop, pour 1 liter of water, remember the level, pour in another 2 liters of water.
Simmer for about 2 hours so that 1 liter of liquid remains in the pan.
Grate the boiled fruit, mix with the evaporated liquid.
Boil the porridge for another 20 minutes, strain.
Broth divided into 4 parts. Eat one part.
Put a heating pad on the liver, lie on your right side.
Repeat every 2 hours.

Recipe for beet kvass

It does not hurt to remind once again the simplest recipe:

Fill a third of the jar with peeled and chopped root crops, pour boiling water to the very top.
Add 200 g of sugar, 50 g of rye crackers.
Put in a warm place for fermentation.
After 2-3 days kvass is ready.

Important recipes for cores

You get rid of excess atherosclerotic plaques, strengthen capillaries, improve memory, if you take a mixture of grated product and honey, taken in equal parts, as often as possible. Eat a mixture of 1 tbsp. an hour before meals for 2 months.

Prepare a delicious salad for the whole family:

Cut a half, mix with 1 tbsp. sour cream
Mix with 2 tbsp. l. vegetables,
Add finely chopped cabbage, carrots,
Pour in 1 tbsp. vegetable oil.

Salad is good for improving brain function, cleansing blood vessels.

Beets in the diet of children

Young parents are interested in whether it is possible to feed boiled beets to babies? Children's doctors allow it to be introduced into the baby's diet from the age of 8 months, and closer to the year the child can be fed dishes based on beets - borscht (without frying), stewed beets and vegetable stews, salads, casseroles, pancakes.

Moderation in everything, all parents should remember this: at the age of up to 3 years, you can give about 50 g, from 4 to 7 years already 100 g.

Contraindications and harm of beet treatment

Despite the useful properties of the product, it has contraindications:

Low pressure;
Diabetes. With type 2 diabetes, you can eat 100-120 g of boiled product;
Osteoporosis, as the product reduces the absorption of calcium;
Urolithiasis disease;
Frequent liquid stool;
stomach ulcer;
Gastritis with high acidity.

As you can see, there are not many restrictions. But you will not eat this vegetable in kilograms, and 100 g will not bring harm.

Dear friends, I am sure that you look at the red root vegetable differently and will certainly include it in your diet.

All cultured and educated people know that the stress in the word beet falls on the first syllable, but not everyone knows that such a vegetable familiar in temperate latitudes was valued in ancient times for its unique irreplaceable medicinal properties.

Beet represents herbaceous plant families Amrantovye. There are 9 types of beets, of which the most famous is the common beet, which has such subspecies as sugar beet and fodder beet. All varieties of beets used by people are descended from a single wild ancestor that grew in India and the Far East.

The special value of beets is associated with a unique set of elements and substances that are not found anywhere else and are practically not destroyed during heat treatment, so the vegetable is useful not only raw, but also boiled and baked. But most of the healing properties are in fresh root vegetables or beetroot juice.

Composition of beets

The beetroot contains unique composition essential vitamins and minerals - almost the entire table of D.I. Mendeleev. This and nothing non-essential amino acids: histidine, betaine, lysine. Organic acids are widely represented - malic, lactic, citric, tartaric, oxalic. The benefits of beetroot and its rich vitamin composition - vitamin C, group B, including B9 or folic acid. And all this is only 43 kcal per 100 grams. It is one of the lowest calorie vegetables.

100 g of beets contain the following substances:

vitamins
Vitamin B9
Vitamin PP
Vitamin B5
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B2
Vitamin B1
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Vitamin K

12 Health Benefits of Beets

Healthy heart and vessels

The fiber in the vegetable helps to lower cholesterol and triglycerides, elevated values which lead to the development of serious heart diseases. The amino acid betaine lowers the level of homocysteine, harmful to blood vessels, in the body, the excess of which leads to the development coronary disease hearts. The flavonoids and vitamin C in beets help maintain capillary structure. Potassium has vasodilating properties, thereby relaxing blood vessels and lowering blood pressure. Thus, the use of beets helps prevent cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, heart attack, stroke, and angina pectoris. In addition, the use of beets will help get rid of edema, removing excess fluid from the body.

During the period of bearing a child, it is imperative to include beets in the diet, as it is a source of folic acid. This vitamin prevents some birth defects of the neural tube in children.

Cancer Prevention

Studies have shown that beets are good at preventing skin, lung and colon cancers because they contain the pigment betacyanin, which neutralizes the effects of nitric acid salts and thereby inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Not only the vegetable itself, but also beetroot juice suppresses cell mutations caused by harmful compounds, and can also slow down tumor development.
healthy liver

Beets contain one of the valuable organic matter- betaine, which promotes the breakdown and absorption of proteins, is involved in the formation of choline, while increasing the vital activity of liver cells. BUT traditional healers recommends drinking beetroot decoction to dissolve gallstones.
Immunity Boost

Vitamin C found in beets is a powerful antioxidant that strengthens immune system in several ways. Firstly, it protects the body from the effects of harmful free radicals, and secondly, it stimulates the activity of white blood cells, which are the main fighters against viruses, bacteria, fungi and toxins, which, once in the body, can provoke many infections and diseases. Beets also contain a lot of iron, so fresh beet juice promotes the formation of leukocytes and improves blood composition in general.
healthy eyes

The presence of beta-carotene in beets helps prevent the development of such age-related pathologies like cataracts and macular degeneration.
natural aphrodisiac

Beets have been considered an aphrodisiac since ancient times. The presence of the property to kindle sexual desire is explained by a significant concentration of boron in its composition, which increases the production of sex hormones, improves sperm motility, increases libido and reduces frigidity.
Gives energy and strength

Beets contain a significant amount of carbohydrates at a low calorie content, which gives activity and energy to the body, increases its endurance, especially during sports.
Cleansing the body

Beets contain a large number of fiber and organic acids, which makes it an indispensable product that improves intestinal motility. And this, in turn, serves as a prevention of constipation and helps to remove all toxic substances from the body. For these purposes, boiled beets and beet kvass are most suitable.
Strengthening of bone tissue

Beet tops contain vitamin K, which plays important role in the formation and strengthening of bones. This property of beets makes them ideal source nutrition of this vitamin for people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis.

Beet greens are a good source of coarse dietary fiber, which helps the process of digestion of food and improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract as a whole. Beets are also useful for weight loss, although they have a sufficient amount of sugar, but 200 g of boiled beets is only 60 calories and also contains coarse fiber.

healthy skin

cosmetic effect beetroot juice has been known since ancient times. Its refreshing effect leaves the skin fresh, radiant, supple and clear.

Contraindications

Despite all the advantages of beets, you need to know its negative sides.

the dietary fiber of the beet, when eaten raw, causes intestinal upset;
beets are able to accumulate nitrates, so it is necessary to cut off the upper and lower parts of the root crop, in which they accumulate;
do not get carried away with the use of vegetables for people with low blood pressure, as the substances contained in it will reduce it even more;
oxalic acid contained in beets makes it impossible to drink beet juice suffering from urolithiasis;
you can not drink freshly squeezed beetroot juice, it causes a spasm of blood vessels. It is necessary to defend the juice for 2-3 hours;
you should not use red beets for diabetes, diarrhea and hyperacidity stomach.

IN Ancient Greece beets were considered a symbol of quarrels and troubles. At the same time, wanting to ridicule someone, they sent him beets as a gift, and in case of marital quarrels, a wreath of beet leaves was hung in front of the entrance to their house.

In Russia, beetroot was very revered; baked in the oven, it was a favorite delicacy served with tea. No less popular Russian beet dish was botvinya. Only inept housewives did not know how to prepare it, there was even a saying "What is Ustinya, such is her botvinia."

Legends say that this vegetable gives strength in the fight against various ailments, so he was very much appreciated by the heroes. The girls used beets in cosmetic purposes her cheeks blushed.