The 10 benefits of red beet juice for your health
Drinking beet juice is healthy for the body and mind, according to research. Here we list 10 benefits of beet juice.
WHAT MAKES BEET JUICE SO HEALTHY?
Beet juice is made from the tuber and possibly leaves of the Beta vulgaris plant, better known as the red beet or kroot. This ancient Dutch vegetable with its deep purple-red color has become very popular in recent years. The powerful juice from these earthy-tasting tubers is therefore full of healthy nutrients. Thanks to several scientific studies on the health benefits of red beets, we know that they are rightfully counted among the superfoods. Find out below what regular beet juice drinking can do for your health. Want to make your own beet juice? Then check out the healthy and delicious beet juice recipes below. But first: 10 benefits of beet juice for your health!
1. Beet juice is full of vitamins and minerals
It may seem like a simple juice, but make no mistake: beet juice is rich in healthy nutrients. Before we get into the health benefits of beet juice, let’s list the most important ones for you. Beet juice contains nice amounts of:
- iron (helps normal oxygen transport in your body)
- vitamin A (good for your eyes, skin and iron balance)
- vitamin B6 (helps make red blood cells and is important for your metabolism)
- vitamin C (is good for your immune system and nervous system, is important for skin. Helps protect against free radicals)
- vitamin K (helps with normal blood clotting and maintaining strong bones)
- folic acid (helps make cells and tissues)
- potassium (supports your nervous system, muscles and blood pressure)
- manganese (important for your metabolism and cell protection, among other things)
- copper (good for your immune system, hair, skin and nervous system)
- phosphorus (good for your bones and teeth)
2. Beet juice supports the production of red blood cells
Red beets are a natural source of the mineral iron. This contributes to the normal formation of hemoglobin and red blood cells. Drinking beet juice can therefore contribute to normal oxygen transport in your body. Iron is also important for maintaining a strong immune system, adequate energy and a clear mind. In addition to iron, beet juice also contains a lot of vitamin C, which in turn helps with the absorption of iron in your body. If that’s not an ideal combination…
3. Beet juice is good for your blood pressure
Do you suffer from high blood pressure? If so, you may also benefit from drinking beet juice. Several studies show that drinking 250 milliliters of beet juice a day can help lower your blood pressure ( 1, 2, 3). Researchers relate this effect to the hefty amount of nitrate naturally present in beet juice. Because high blood pressure can lead to various cardiovascular diseases, it is wise to look into lowering it.
Want to give your blood pressure extra support? Then you can also benefit from drinking beet juice. Beet juice, in fact, is rich in potassium. This mineral is beneficial for blood pressure. So by drinking beet juice, you can naturally give your blood pressure a helping hand.
4. Beet juice can help prevent cardiovascular disease
Beet juice contains a lot of vitamin C, which is an important nutrient for your blood vessels. Because vitamin C contributes to the formation of collagen which is important for maintaining a strong vessel wall, also collagen is important for supple veins. The iron in beets also contributes to the normal transport of oxygen in your body.
A scientific study (4) on the effect of nitrate from beet juice in healthy volunteers showed that this substance can help prevent cardiovascular disease.
5. Beet juice helps maintain healthy skin
Beet juice contains several nutrients that help maintain healthy and even skin. The first is vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which helps protect against damage to your skin cells, such as from UV radiation. Vitamin C is also important for the production of collagen in your body, which help support the condition of the skin. Beets are also a natural source of betalains, oxidants that have a purifying effect. Because these also have an anti-inflammatory (5) effect, they can help prevent skin inflammation associated with acne. The mineral copper in beet juice contributes to the normal pigmentation of your skin.
6. Beet juice supports energy levels
Beet juice is a drink to activate your natural energy. There are several B vitamins in the juice, especially B6 and B11. B6 and the mineral iron in this deep red drink activate your natural energy in your body. B11 is good for fatigue.
7. Beet juice can help protect your cells
Beet juice is rich in many different nutrients, including antioxidants. These capture so-called free radicals, which can cause damage to your cells.
8. Beet juice has anti-inflammatory properties.
Beets owe their red color to betalains. These are often used as natural dyes in the food industry, but they can also be very healthy. For example, research (6) shows that they have anti-inflammatory properties. Do you suffer from inflammatory diseases such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis? Then drinking beet juice can provide relief.`
9. Beet juice contributes to brain and nerve function
Beet juice is not only good for your body, but also for psycholosic function. First, it contains a lot of folic acid, which is good for your concentration and memory, among other things. As a result, beet juice helps maintain your normal cognitive performance. In addition, beet juice contains iron, which plays an important role in mental effort and contributes to normal problem-solving abilities.
10. Beet juice supports your athletic performance
Did you already know that beet juice is an excellent sports drink? Especially if you drink it before you start your workout, you can benefit from the supportive effects of beet juice when exercising. Research shows that beet juice makes amateurs perform better, especially in oxygen consumption(7). It is not for nothing, then, that beet juice is incredibly popular among athletes. Beet juice contains a remarkable number of nutrients that can have a positive effect on your endurance and muscle strength, among other things.
Nitrate
Beet juice naturally contains high levels of nitrate. This substance can be converted into nitric oxide (NO) in your body. So for avid athletes looking for a way to increase their nitrate intake, beet juice is ideal.
Several studies show (8) that drinking beet juice can improve your athletic performance. This is due in part to the amount of nitrate in beet juice. This substance is converted into nitrite in your body, which then promotes the production of nitric oxide. This causes your blood vessels to dilate, making it easier for your blood (and oxygen) to flow through your muscles. This has positive effects on your muscle function: you may experience increased endurance, for example.
Betalain, betanin, betaine
Another study (9) found that the betalain in beet juice also has a positive effect on blood flow to your muscles, both during and after exercise. The results of another study (10) suggests that betalain can increase your muscle strength.
Other vitamins and minerals
Several vitamins and minerals make drinking beet juice especially interesting for athletes. Think for example of iron, this activates your natural energy in your body, folic acid supports with lethargy. Vitamin B6 contributes to the energy supply of muscles, or potassium, which helps keep your muscles strong and flexible. Did you get excited about the health benefits of beet juice? Further down you will find tasty recipes that will help you make your own beet juice. Also, be sure to read the comments about beet juice below.
What else you need to know about beet juice and your health
As you have been able to read, drinking beet juice has many positive effects on your health. However, beet juice can also cause some unexpected side effects, which are not necessarily negative, but good to know. Due to the strong dyes in beet juice, your stool and urine may take on a reddish-purple tint. This is nothing to worry about, but it may look a little strange at first.
Furthermore, it is important not to drink large amounts of beet juice every day. In fact, some people may experience adverse effects if they ingest too much nitrate. For example, are you predisposed to kidney stones or other problems with your kidneys? Then it is wise to drink beet juice in moderation. This is because the oxalic acid in beet juice can bind calcium to it, which can start to crystallize into kidney stones.
Making your own beet juice: 3 recipes from Sapje
Want to make your own red beet juice? We’d like to make it easier for you with these three recipes. If you want to take full advantage of the healthy nutrients in red beets, it is important that you choose fresh, organic red beets. These are available year-round in the Netherlands. Use both the tubers and the leaves and wash them carefully beforehand. There is no need to peel them. Making your beet juice with a slow juicer will also give you the healthiest results. Slow juicing is the best way to preserve the original nutrients from your ingredients. These recipes for beet juice can also be made with the juicer. Another tip: remember that beets give off a strong color. So wear a good apron to protect your clothes and preferably use materials that the dyes cannot soak into.
Recipe red beet juice for sports
This red beet juice with cherries is an excellent sports drink. Cherries, like red beets, contain several nutrients that support your body during and after exercise. They promote your sports performance and recovery afterwards. Not for nothing do we use this combination in our proven Recover juice, which top athletes love to rely on. Moreover, they make the color even more purple and the taste a bit richer and sweeter. The carrot provides some extra body, the lemon juice some freshness and the turmeric some spice.
Ingredients:
- 2 x beet with the beet leaves
- 2 handfuls of cherries (possibly from the freezer, thaw first)
- 1 carrot
- ½ lemon
- 1 piece of fresh turmeric
Preparation:
Carefully wash all the ingredients, cut them a little smaller, remove any seeds from the cherries and squeeze this delicious beet juice with the slow juicer or juicer. Drink your beet juice as soon as possible to preserve its freshness and nutrients.
Recipe pure red beet juice
This red beet juice recipe is perfect for lovers of that warm, earthy and sweet taste that beets are known for. The carrot and ginger enhance this effect and increase the antioxidant value of this beet juice. The lime adds a surprisingly fresh touch.
Ingredients:
- 2 x beet with leaves
- 2 x carrot
- ½ lime
- 1 piece of fresh ginger
Preparation:
Wash all the ingredients carefully, cut them a little smaller if necessary and squeeze this delicious beet juice with the slow juicer or juicer.
Recipe sweet and creamy beet juice (also accessible to kids)
As healthy as beets are, the earthy taste sometimes takes some getting used to, especially for children. This red beet juice becomes extra smooth and creamy with the addition of sweet potato and extra sweet and fresh thanks to the pineapple and orange. They also add nice amounts of vitamins A and C. So this tasty beet juice is also perfect for stronger resistance and healthy skin.
Ingredients:
- 1 red beet
- 1 orange sweet potato / sweet potato
- 2 slices of pineapple
- 1 whole orange without peel
Preparation:
Wash all the ingredients carefully, cut them a little smaller if necessary and squeeze this delicious beet juice with the slow juicer or juicer.
Prefer to order organic beet juice?
Want to enjoy the health benefits of fresh organic beet juice, but don’t have time to make it yourself? Not to worry, you can of course order it from Sapje. Both the aforementioned Recover juice and the powerful Energy juice have beet as one of the main ingredients. Both beet juices are very suitable as sports drinks, but also delicious during a long day. Of course, they are also an excellent general support for your health.
Especially check out the range of healthy nutrients present in these beet juices. They are made from the best fresh, organic and local ingredients and hand-pressed with the slow juicer. We then freeze the juices directly with the shock freezer to naturally preserve freshness and nutrients.
Why is it wise to drink red beet juice?
Several scientific studies on the health benefits of red beets indicate that they are superfoods for good reason!
What does red beet juice do for your body?
– beet juice is good for your blood pressure (due to potassium);
– beet juice helps your brain function properly contributes to a clear mind (due to, among other things. vitamin B6);
– beet juice can help prevent cardiovascular disease (due to vitamin C);
– beet juice helps maintain healthy skin (due to vitamin A, among others);
– beet juice can help prevent damage to your cells (due to vitamin C and manganese, among others);
– beet juice supports your athletic performance.
How do you make your own red beet juice?
Why is drinking red beet juice before exercise good?
During exercise, your body uses oxygen to produce energy. Carbohydrates and fats are mainly used for this purpose. Red beet juice, containing nitrate, provides more and better oxygen uptake in the cells of your body.
