Ingredient Spotlight: Beetroot

This root vegetable is a rich source of bioactive agents that are very beneficial to health. In this section we will review the properties and nutritional profile of this food.

Nutritional Components:

Beetroot is rich in potassium, phosphorus, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium, and calcium. It also has phytochemicals like flavonoids, polyphenols, betalains (betacyanin and betaxanthins), and inorganic Nitrate.

Health effects:

• Antioxidant content: Beetroot is loaded with antioxidants and is classified as one of the ten plants with the highest antioxidant content. This helps decrease inflammation by combating free radical mediated damage within our bodies.

• Blood Pressure: Beetroot juice consumption may help regulate blood pressure and improve endothelial function. This is postulated to be secondary to the NO3 mediated effect, which may in turn increase NO2 and NO levels. This hypotensive effect can be blunted with the intake of allopurinol (a medication commonly used to treat gout). Smoking and antibacterial mouth washes may also play a role in blunting the hypotensive effect of Beetroot.

• Other effects: Beetroot may also have a beneficial impact on blood sugar and lipid regulation.

• Kidney stones: Beetroot is rich in oxalic acid which is a natural metal ion chelator—too much of beetroot intake may lead to the formation of kidney stones, and therefore it should be consumed with caution for individuals with a history of kidney stones.

In the above section we have reviewed the properties of this root vegetable. I would like to stress that this is a food and not a drug and people should not use it as a replacement for traditional medications. As always, I wish that you keep your health in center focus and live long and strong!