Just Beet it! How beets can heal anemia, detox your liver and give you energy!

beets yellow and red

By Piera B

Best Body Ever › Nourishing Nosh / No Comments

Beets are the king of root vegetables. That’s my opinion of course but read on for how deeply healing and DELICIOUS these vegetables really are for you.

Beets are root veggies and as such ABSORB huge amounts of nutrients from the soil. This also gives them their earthy flavour and their red pigment contains numerous phytochemcials that ward off disease and illness. Their sweetness makes them perfect for making green juicing more palatable and easy to drink.

 

beet root

Benefits of BEETS!

Beets are a heart’s best friend! They truly can be considered the Heart vegetable as most of their benefit supports the cardiovascular system, blood, and circulation.

Prevents and Heals Anemia

If you are prone to Anemia, and/or have heavy menstrual bleeding every month you may really benefit from including  4 ounces of beet juice as part of your smoothies or green juice 3 times a week.  Beets help to “build the blood” by supporting hemoglobin production and because they contain VITAMIN C they help you absorb the iron already present! So it’s like a 2 for 1 deal 😉

Lowers Blood Pressure

If you have been told by your doctor to that you have high blood pressure beets can help to lower it naturally. Combine beets, garlic and Tumeric in your juicer and create a powerful heart healthy and blood pressure lowering tonic.  According to Dr Mercola “drinking beet juice may help to lower blood pressure in a matter of hours. One study found that drinking one glass of beet juice lowered systolic blood pressure by an average of 4-5 points.”

The benefit likely comes from the naturally occurring nitrates in beets, which are converted into nitric oxide in your body. Nitric oxide, in turn, helps to relax and dilate your blood vessels, improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure.

 

A beet juice 2

Stamina

According to Dr Mercola “when you need a boost to make it through your next workout, beet juice may again prove valuable. Those who drank beet juice prior to exercise were able to exercise for up to 16 percent longer. The benefit is thought to also be related to nitrates turning into nitric oxide, which may reduce the oxygen cost of low-intensity exercise as well as enhance tolerance to high-intensity exercise.

Supports Liver Detoxification 

Beets are high in betaine a phytochemical that can cleanse and help the liver do what it does best- detoxification. If you have a history of smoking, drinking excessive alcohol, are presently taking pharmaceutical meds, eat a lot of processed foods, chances are your liver is not a happy camper.  Drinking beet juice may help alleviate some of the toxic burden and help it do it’s job. If you are diabetic is best to have smaller amounts of beet juice and always with some protein or fat to slow down the inline response.

Anti Cancer Properties 

I always say to my clients,  EAT COLOUR! The red pigments offer anti cancer prevention because these super plant chemicals neutralize free radicals and keep your body in an alkaline state. If you eat a lot of processed foods, smoke, drink, eat dairy,  consume sugar, meat and animal products you tip your PH state into an acidic state. To bring you into a more alkaline state, which is a state where cancer cells can’t thrive or survive, eat more whole foods! And that includes Beets :)

beet juice ingredients

 

So what to do with beets? Beets can be cooked and eaten as a  salad with arugula, pears, goat cheese and sprinkled with walnuts and hemp seeds. They can also be roasted in the oven with other veggies like onions, parsnips and zucchini OR you can JUICE YOUR BEETS! Here is my own “Beet It!” blend.  Remember to save the pulp and add to stews or soup with beans and you got a fiver packed soup that will make your liver happy and those bowels too :)

 

Piera’s “Beet It! Elixir and Healing Tonic”

Ingredients:

2 beets

3 stalks of celery

3 romaine leaves or Kale

1 cucumber

1 carrot

1/2 apple

Ginger root

1 clove of garlic

Cayenne to taste

Wash all veggies and fruit well and scrub the beets and carrots. Place in the juicer and then add cayenne to taste to the fresh juice.  I find this one of the best post workout drinks because it is natural electrolyte drink and will replenish any minerals you lose during your workout.

 

Have a beetiful day! I couldn’t help it 😛

 

Stay Healthy, Happy and Free!

Piera B.

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