One look at these brilliantly red root plants tells you everything you need to know about beet juice benefits. After all, the very same thing that gives the beautiful beet its bright color is also responsible for a whole list of beet juice benefits that include everything from detox to cancer protection.
Yup, we’re talking about betanin. Beets are loaded with betanin, which has been intensely studied for hundreds of years. This super molecule has been found to help detoxify, reduce overall inflammation, and prevent free radicals from doing a number on your body.
But the benefits of beet juice don’t stop there…
9 Brilliant Beet Juice Benefits
Beet juice is beautiful – no denying that. And it’s as good for you as it looks. But before diving into the specific health perks that you get by juicing beets, let’s talk about an antioxidant called betanin.
This is the powerful antioxidant responsible for the beet’s vibrant color. It is also the reason for a strange juicing side effect: your urine and stool may turn a sort of reddish purple with increased beet consumption.
But beets and the betanin they contain are more than worth dealing with red pee, especially since they come loaded with unique health perks, like:
- Liver Health: It protects the liver and bile ducts and stimulates liver cell functionality. Beet fiber increases production of detoxifying enzymes in the liver.
- Inflammation Reduction: Reducing inflammation in the body helps with a number of health complications from arthritis to heart disease. This includes skin inflammation like acne. Juiced beets promote healthy skin and hair growth and blemish elimination.
- Clot Reduction: It protects the lining of blood vessels.
- Cholesterol: It reduces oxidized bad cholesterol.
- Cellular Protection: It protects cells from harmful toxins known to trigger tumors.
Betanin is just one of the many beneficial compounds found in beets. Juicing beets (both root and greens) yields a powerhouse of feel good nutritional benefits. Let’s take a closer look at some more specific perks you get by adding beet juice to your life!
Keep anemia away
Beets are a valuable source of iron. To treat anemia, a combination of the beneficial iron and antioxidants found in beets with vitamin B12 will allow oxygen into the blood and protects from damage.
Promotes gentle detox
As previously mentioned, the red color that beets are famous for comes directly from the photochemical betanin. This food pigment has been shown to break down fatty deposits in your liver, and to promote detoxification throughout body.
Protects your heart
It has also been linked to decreasing your risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering a substance in your blood known as homocysteine. This molecule is directly correlated with cardiovascular disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. With lowered levels of homocysteine in your blood, you can vastly reduce your risk of any of these ailments.
Boosts your immune system
Beets are very high in Vitamin C. This essential vitamin is known by everyone as a combatant of the common cold, however it can also help prevent other respiratory diseases. Vitamin C is also classified as an antioxidant which means that it also helps to combat the damage done to your body by free radicals.
It’s been shown time and time again that simply consuming fresh foods rich in antioxidants is linked to a reduced risk of cancer.
But that’s not all – the betacyanin in beet juice has been shown to successfully suppress the formation of tumors and decrease the growth of cancer cells.
Fights inflammation in the body
Inflammation is one of the leading causes of heart disease, cancer, stroke and arthritis. People who eat high fat, high carb diets often have massive amounts of inflammation in their bodies. Over time, this overpowering inflammation can damage their cells and jumpstart various disease processes.
Fortunately, beets are high in anti-inflammatory agents. Their phytochemicals infiltrate the body and inhibit the enzymes of the cyclo-oxygenase family. These enzymes roam through our bloodstreams and initiate the inflammatory cascade. By inhibiting this family of enzymes, your body will reduce its overall inflammation and be at a lower risk for developing a myriad of diseases.
Improves vision
Raw beets contain lutein and zeaxanthin. Both of these carotenoids are beneficial for eye health, specifically retinal. These substances are easily damaged when cooked, so it is important to consume the beets raw.
Last longer for better workouts
Here’s something you may want to add into your workout routine: beet juice. A study in the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology found that the nitrate in beet juice helps increase blood flow and improve blood vessel dilation, which in turn reduces the oxygen cost of exercise and improves high-intensity exercise tolerance.
Sounds like the perfect thing to have before CrossFit…
Boosts your mood
Here’s a fun fact about beets: they contain tryptophan, which your body converts into a brain chemical called serotonin – you know, the happy hormone. As such, drinking a bit of beet juice can help calm your mind (and keep you young) and keep your anxiety at bay.
Plus, beets also contain numerous phytochemicals that help naturally lower your blood pressure by promoting healthy circulation. People with lowered blood pressures have less anxiety and a lower incidence of depression.
Good for your brain
Speaking of blood flow, scientists at Wake Forest University determined that natural nitrates in beets can increase blood flow to the brain, thereby improving mental performance.
And more…
Beet juice is also rich source of other vital vitamins and minerals such as Potassium, Folate, Manganese and Iron. It has been reported as a healer of gout. It promotes healthy kidney and gall bladder functionality. Beets reduce bad cholesterol, balance blood pressure, contribute to stomach health and simply taste fantastic. Oh, and did we mention that it also boosts a rosy glow? As if you needed more reasons to love beet juice.
3 Best Tasting Beetroot Juice Recipes
When it comes to your body’s health, beets are beating out the competition. Historically speaking, beets have been a remedy for multiple ailments ranging from blood pressure to cancer.
So how do you get all the health perks in raw, fresh, and easy form? Juice it, of course! Here are some delicious beet juice recipes to get started with!
Ruby Red Fat Burner Juice
Here’s one of the best beet juice recipes ever created. It’s so simple, so easy and quick to make and as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside:
- 2 grapefruits (peeled)
- 1 large beetroot (beet greens can be left on)
- 2 cucumbers
This simple juicing recipe is a low-calorie blend that also helps promotes weight loss with the help of the fat burning enzymes found in grapefruit.
Lovely Pink Lady Detox Juice
This might be one of the yummiest detox juice recipes I’ve ever tried – seriously, it’s pure deliciousness. And it’s packed with health benefits with detox-aiding beets adding a beautiful pink color, digestion-promoting pineapple and apples contributing a wonderful sweetness, and circulation-aiding, immmunity-boosting ginger topping it all off with a zesty kick!
Heart Healthy Red Juice
This red cabbage juice recipe combination with other “red” ingredients creates a great pick-me-up drink for juicers alike.
Your heart does so much for you. So what do you do when you want to show it some love? Juice this yummy heart-healthy juice recipe:
- 2 small beets or 1 large beet plus beet greens
- Pomegranate seeds from a small to medium pomegranate
- 1/4 of a medium sized red cabbage
- 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger root
This sweet-tart combination of pomegranate, beets, red cabbage and ginger is amazing for your heart as well as your digestive system. It’s a wonderful way to give your body some TLC.
