Beets. They don’t look like much, but these red darlings are at the top shelves in the superfood hierarchy. Beetroots are root vegetables with leafy green stalks and are super at reducing blood pressure due to its high nitrate content.
You’d have to eat a lot of beets to get the required amount of beets, but there is a faster way to get those sweet, sweet nitrates.
Beetroot powder.
Beetroot powder comes from dehydrated ground beets, and since it’s already desiccated, it’s chock full of nitrates! Just one spoon of it equals one whole beet. But that isn’t the only good thing about it
WHY GO FOR BEETROOT POWDER?
Apart from being the nitrate royalty, beetroot powder is also rich in potassium, which nerve function and blood circulation – move over bananas!
Beetroot Powder contains so many other nutrients like:
- Iron
Which helps in circulating oxygen around the body and prevents anemia. It is also helpful in combating erectile dysfunction
- Magnesium
Which helps control weight loss and prevents type 2 diabetes by boosting insulin production and lowering blood sugar levels
- Betalain
Betalain is the pigment that gives beets its red color and is handy at detoxifying the liver. It also has anti-inflammatory qualities.
- Vitamin C
Vitamin C, in addition to other nutrients contained in beets, creates the perfect weight loss supplement. This is because you’re getting a variety of nutrition from a small concentration of beetroot powder instead of different foods.
- Amino acid Arginine
Arginine acts together with boron in the beet to serve as an excellent aphrodisiac.
The nitrates in beets are powerful on their own, too, as they improve blood flow to the brain, increase endurance, and reduce fatigue. Taking beet juice supplements just before exercising can give you the energy to power through,
When choosing beets, go for organically grown beets. Why? Because powders gotten from these roots are better and have no adverse effects on your health.
HOW TO USE BEETROOT POWDER
You can add beets to your diet in many ways.
A little in your food can give it that reddish hue without any artificial food colorings. Think red velvet but redder and vegan. You can also add a spoon or two to your smoothies, especially those that taste awful – blegh.
Beetroot powder can also be made into an excellent and healthy dip for movie time with family and friends.
Lattes, juices, cookies, beet nibs, you name it! All these can have a bit of beet inside them – see what we did there?
Or you can straight up take a teaspoon of beetroot powder every day.
Warning: Beets can be too much for your digestive system. So, if you haven’t taken it before, try starting with small quantities and study the effects first.
Also, don’t be alarmed when you see slightly reddish stool or urine after eating beetroot powder. It is a harmless occurrence called ‘beeturia’ caused by the betalain pigments in beets.
