The beet is an herbaceous biennial plant of the Chenopodiaceae family. It's a root vegetable, full of vitamins, minerals and essential plant compounds, some of which have medicinal properties.
Beetroots are rich in betaine, a natural anti-inflammatory agent with tremendous cardiovascular benefits, as well as other vitamins and minerals such as iodine, potassium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, iron and vitamins C, B2, B1 and B12. Their red color is due to anthocyanins. They also contain nitrates and inorganic pigments, which are all beneficial to our health.
Beetroot is known to help lower blood pressure. These antihypertensive properties are due to the vegetable’s high nitrate concentration. In the body, they are converted to nitric oxide, a molecule which dilates blood vessels and therefore lowers blood pressure.
This red vegetable can also help fight inflammations. The betalain pigments it contains possess many anti-inflammatory properties. They can reduce pain and discomfort associated with arthritis. Its high fiber content also helps reduce digestive disorders.
Finally, the nitrates found in the beets can improve mental and cognitive faculties by promoting the dilation of blood vessels, thus increasing the blood flow to the brain.
