When you think of fruits and vegetables, the most popular ones tend to be apples, oranges, berries and maybe bananas for fruit. With vegetables, the most likely to pop into your head might be carrots, spinach, broccoli, and maybe peppers. Rarely, if ever, will you hear anyone name beets. This is interesting in itself considering that the main reasons people say they don’t eat enough vegetables is taste and consistency. Well, beets not only have good flavor, but they are also easily chewed and swallowed.  If that’s not impressive enough, then read on about the amazing health benefits of beets and their juice.

Firstly, beets help significantly improve blood circulation. Rich in dietary nitrates which the body turns into nitric oxide, beets increase blood flow throughout the entire body including the brain, lower limbs, and pelvic area. Speaking of which,  one of the first known uses for beets was by the Ancient Romans who used them as an aphrodisiac. Sound like legend? Science backs it up. Beets are high in a substance directly related to the production of sex hormones called boron. Some have referred to beets as “nature’s Viagra”.  Beets and their juice have become a staple in my pre and post-workout drinks and meals.

Secondly, beets are very high in numerous vitamins and minerals including folic acid, beta-cyanine, beta-carotene, vitamins A, B, and C, iron, phosphorus, fiber, magnesium, and potassium. Sounds like beets are like a natural multivitamin themselves. The vitamin B and iron are particularly beneficial to pregnant women who need to replenish the iron in their bodies, and anyone who may be anemic or borderline. With all these nutrients, along with being low in calories and high in sugar (gradually released into your system) and fiber, beets can be quite helpful in your quest to lose and/or maintain weight and increase your energy level in a healthy manner.

Lastly, beets and their juice are one of the best kept secrets  regarding it’s ability to boost brain power. Since it contains high amounts of vital vitamins and minerals and significantly increase blood flow to all parts of the body including the cranial region, beet juice provides more oxygen to the brain and therefore improving its performance. Many might say, “Well, my morning coffee does that well enough for me.” While that may very well be true, it is also true that in the short-term view, your coffee will jack up your nervous system for a couple of hours or so, then have you crashing down looking for its next caffeine fix. In the long-term, as with any other stimulant, coffee will eventually burn out your nervous system and weaken your immune system. On the other hand, the high fiber, high sugar, low-calorie content in beets releases its energy slowly so the body is not shocked and harmed, and the brain remains steadily sharp and clear for a much longer period of time.

So many people, it seems, have never even tried a beet in their lifetime. If you’re one of these individuals, or even if you’ve only consumed a few slices, give some strong consideration to adding beets to your eating plan. A vegetable that tastes good, chews easily, improves blood circulation to the entire body, is rich in a plethora of important vitamins and minerals, and improves brain power and focus! How can you go wrong?  Go to the market, buy some of those sensational burgundy vegetables, and feel the beet!

~centerfield6

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