beetroot

Content of this post will include:

1	Nutritional Value
2	6 Benefits of Beetroot
3	How To Make Beetroot Juice With/Without a Blender
4	How to Store Leftovers
5	Where to Buy Beetroot in Nigeria

 

The leaves and the root can be eaten. Though the leaves taste bitter, the root of the beet plant tastes sweet. Beetroot is the bulbous tap root of beet plant. It has a thin rough outer skin. Inside it can look a bit like a very red or purple onion. It’s very rich in calcium, iron, Vitamin A, and nitrates include spinach, radishes, lettuce and celery.

Nutritional Value Of Beetroot

According to the USDA, 100 grams of beetroot has about 43 calories with about 0.2 grams of fat. It has about 325 grams of potassium, 78 grams of sodium, 1.6 grams of protein and total carbohydrate is around 10 grams.

Beetroots are best enjoyed raw and uncooked, if you decide to cook it, you can add them in salads or easier to just juice them up. It’s normal if after drinking beet juice, your urine and stools look reddish.

Eating beets won’t give you the same quantity of nitrates, because cooking hampers some of the nitrates, but it certainly is good for your health, says Marjorie Nolan, RD.

 

A glass of beetroot juice helps in giving you all the vitamins and minerals in a concentrated form.

Don’t remove the pulp, that’s where all your fiber is. Also, remember that plain beetroot juice may contain oxalic acid and therefore it is good to blend it with other fruits or vegetables. This will also help in adding additional flavour and nutrition. For instance, beetroots and carrots make a lovely pair.

 

“A combination beetroot juice with carrots and amla is very healthy especially for those who have anaemia. It helps in raising your iron levels naturally,” says Delhi-based Nutritionist, Dr. Simran Saini.

Dr. Saini also suggests that it is best to have beetroot juice early morning or one hour before your breakfast. “Drink a 200 ml glass of beetroot juice every day to reap all its benefits. But drink it fresh else the nutritional value of the juice diminishes,” she adds.

 

6 Benefits of Beetroot

1. Manages your blood pressure

The naturally occurring nitrates increase nitric oxide found in the blood vessels which allow more oxygen to flow to your brain, heart, and muscles and thus, lowering high blood pressure.

2. Enhances Glowing Skin

Beetroot juice act as a great blood purifier. Beetroots are also rich in Vitamin C which helps in clearing blemishes and evens out your skin tone while giving it a natural glow.

3. Detox naturally

Beetroots are a unique source of betalains (a type of phytonutrient) known to provide powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and detoxification properties.  Beetroot is known to be the liver-protective food. It is a great liver cleanser and helps in flushing out all the toxins. With the help of compounds like methionine and glycine, it prevents fatty acids from building up and stimulates the liver cells.

 

4. Boosts energy and stamina

Beetroot juice helps in opening the blood vessels and thus increases the flow of oxygen throughout your body making you feel more energetic and active. This is probably why it’s best to have it early morning to wake up your sleepy organs.  It has been often promoted as a great workout drink and good for athletes as it increases the flow of oxygen to the muscles preparing them for the stress ahead.

5. Good for digestion

Beetroot juice with its pulp is full of fiber which helps in regulative your digestive processes and relieves constipation. It is said that betaine increases stomach acid levels, to improve digestion. A glass of beetroot juice is also a great home remedy for an upset stomach.

6. Lowers blood glucose

Though high in sugar, beetroot helps to regulate your blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that it does not lead to high glucose concentration in the blood.  This simply means that the natural sugars in beetroot are released very slowly in the body and thus, prevents sudden spikes. In the form of the juice, it may help diabetics.

 

How to Make Beet Juice With (or Without) a Juicer

The drink is naturally sweet! Fresh, vibrant, and full of nutrients, beets are one of nature’s powerhouse veggies. Here’s how to make beet juice at home.

No juicer? No problem!

1. Beetroot 2. Strainer / sieve

All you’ll need is a blender and our favorite root vegetable(beetroot). If you want to get creative, toss your favorite add-ons into the blender during the second step.

Step 3: Wash the beets to remove any grit/sand, and trim off the leaves and bottom tip. Roughly chop.

Step 4: Blend the beets by placing the washed beets in a blender and blend until smooth.

Step 5: Strain the juice into a glass to ensure there are no chunks of pulp.

Step 6: serve in a glass. Enjoy!

 

Beetjuice with a Juicer

After washing, trimming, and roughly chopping the beets (you can also peel them, if you want) just insert them into the juicer.

 

How to Store Leftover Beetroot

Raw beets can last between 7 to 10 days in the refrigerator, while cooked beets can last up to a week. If you have leftover beet juice that you won’t be able to finish, it doesn’t have to go to waste. Freeze it until you’re ready to drink.

 

Where Can I Buy Beetroot in Nigeria

Beetroot can be bought in raw form, juice form, powder form or as supplements. It can be purchased in fruit markets across Nigeria but especially in the vegetable and fruit category on our website. The common name is beet.

An easy way to get this is to try to go to any market where vegetables and fruits are sold and ask for beet. If you decide to buy from our website, simply type beetroot on the search space at the top of the website and proceed with your purchase.