Top 5 Health Benefits of Beets!

Beets are a polarizing subject for most; some can’t get over their earthy taste, while others enjoy their subtle sweetness.  In American culture, one can’t think of beet farming without referring to the outlandish TV character Dwight Schrute from The Office, whose many quirks include running a family beet farm.  In Australia, however, beets are as common as fast-food; along with lettuce, tomato, and onions, Australian burgers are often served with a slice of beet!  If Americans were to get on board, we’d find that beets have a lot to offer nutritionally, especially with their natural nitrate and manganese content.  That leads us to the top 5 health benefits of beets:

1. Boosts Endurance:  Beet juice contains a high concentration of nitrates (NO3-), and supplementation in athletes was shown to reduce blood pressure and improve oxygen flow and exercise performance.
2. Fights Cancer:  Just one cup of beets provides over a fifth of one’s daily value in manganese!  Manganese is essential to the formation of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD).  Like all antioxidants, SOD neutralizes free radicals in the body, which can damage cell membranes and DNA and lead to cancer development.
3. Supports Bone Health: Manganese, along with other trace elements like vanadium and boron, is necessary for healthy bones.  Though the pathway is unclear, one study showed that women with higher concentrations of manganese in the blood were less likely to develop osteoporosis.
4. Provides Pain Relief: Several studies have shown diets rich in manganese can provide pain relief in subjects with arthritis and women with premenstrual cramps.
5. Promotes Healthy Circulation:   Daily supplementation of manganese has been shown to reduce the concentration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood.  LDL cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol, can cause arteries to develop plaque buildup, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Besides being a rich source of nitrates and manganese, beets provide a great source of folate, as well.  If this has you sold on beets, make sure to come by a juice. Nashville shop and try one of our beet-themed juices, like whoa.  You won’t regret it!

-Michael Guido, Juice Ambassador, BA Biological Sciences, University of Chicago

References:

1. Domínguez R, Cuenca E, Maté-Muñoz JL, García-Fernández P, et al.  Effects of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Cardiorespiratory Endurance in Athletes: A Systematic Review.
2. Ehrlich S.  University of Maryland Medical Center Reference Guide:  Manganese.
3. Odabasi E, Turan M, Aydin A, Akay C, Kutlu M. Magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium levels in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Can magnesium play a key role in osteoporosis?
4. Penland JG, Johnson PE. 1993. Dietary calcium and manganese effects on menstrual cycle symptoms.
5. Kumawat DC, Bomb BS, Bhatnagar HN. Effect of manganese on prevention of atherosclerosis in cholesterol fed rabbits.