Low in fat and with a sweet, earthy flavour, beetroot juice has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal food. Today it continues to be the source of numerous studies highlighting its many benefits for health and well-being.
The health benefits of beetroot juice are unique because it’s rich in nitrates, antioxidants and specific compounds such as betacyanins which are involved in many essential activities in the body. Beetroots are most widely recognised for their detoxification and cell protection benefits, but they also offer a whole host of vitamins and minerals such as iron and folate. Beetroot juice happens to be one of the best juices for filling up on fibre, and for getting a good dose of vitamins A, B6 and C and potassium – all of which are essential for promoting good health.
So while beetroot may be guilty of turning your wee pink – thanks to the compound anthocynanin which creates their deep red appearance – in raw juice form, they are a powerhouse of un-beet-able goodness!
Keep reading for our celebratory list of the top 10 health benefits of beetroot juice:
1. Lowers Blood Pressure
There’s been lots of research linking beetroot juice with blood pressure management, and this is because it has a special ingredient called nitrate. When ingested, nitrate turns into nitric acid – a chemical that reduces blood pressure and enhances cardiovascular health.
2. Dementia Prevention
According to recent studies, beetroot juice is fantastic brain juice because it helps slow the progression of dementia in older adults. Drinking beetroot juice regularly improves blood flow and oxygenation to the brain, which is key for improving cognition and delaying symptoms of dementia.
3. Aids Digestion
Rich in dietary fibre, beetroot juice promotes a healthy digestion and can ward off constipation when consumed regularly.
4. Detoxifies Your Liver
There’s research to suggest that drinking beetroot juice can do wonders for your liver, as it contains powerful compounds that cleanse and protect this important organ. The liver is vital for flushing out toxins in the body, so detoxifying fruit such as beets can help make its job easier.
5. Mood Booster
If you need reason to smile, have a glass of beetroot juice. Beets contain the compound, betaine, which increases the production of serotonin – the body’s natural mood boosting hormone. It’s no surprise then that betaine is found in certain treatments for depression.
6. Fights Inflammation
Beetroot is a unique source of the nutrient betaine, which is rather clever at protecting the body’s cells, enzymes and proteins from environmental stress. Its ability to fight inflammation makes it useful for promoting good long-term health and for combatting acne and chronic diseases.
7. Powers Your Workout
If you need an energy booster before exercising, simply pour yourself a glass of beetroot juice. A study in 2013 showed that inactive and recreationally active individuals saw a ‘moderate improvement’ in physical performance after drinking beetroot juice, and could keep going for much longer.
8. Supports Cancer Prevention
The cell protection and detoxifying benefits of raw beetroot juice make it one of the best foods for cancer prevention. The betacyanins (natural compounds) in beetroot have been shown to prevent the formation of cancerous tumours.
9. A Natural Viagra
Beetroot is nature’s Viagra, and has been used medicinally since Roman times as an aphrodisiac. Rich in a mineral called boron, beetroot juice can enhance the production of human sexual hormones, which is handy for boosting libido and increasing fertility.
10. Skin Remedy
Beetroot juice is bursting full of skin enhancing nutrients such as iron and folate, and is considered a particularly effective anti-ageing remedy. Drinking it regularly is thought to help ease problem skin and promote a healthier complexion.
Beetroot juice’s distinctive flavour may be delicious to some, but for others it can be too rich. If you’d like to reap more of the benefits of raw beetroot juice but find the flavour a bit too rich, V-Fusion Raspberry & Beetroot juice is a sweet and refreshing way to get your daily dose. Packed with lots of nutritional goodness and 2 of your 5 a day, it’s just what you need to put the beet back in your life.
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