It is apparent that a lot of care should be exercised in the selection, and combination of food materials. When considering beets you will find they are low calories and high in fiber plus nutrients like vitamins C, B, magnesium, potassium, and more. Here Adda Bjarnadottir, MS, HealthLine.com, reflects on nutritional facts and health benefits of beetroots:

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“Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) is a root vegetable also known as red beet, table beet, garden beet, or just beet.

Packed with essential nutrients, beetroots are a great source of fiber, folate (vitamin B9), manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C.

Beetroots and beetroot juice have been associated with numerous health benefits, including improved blood flow, lower blood pressure, and increased exercise performance.

Many of these benefits are due to their high content of inorganic nitrates.

Beetroots are delicious raw but more frequently cooked or pickled. Their leaves — known as beet greens — can also be eaten.

There are numerous types of beetroot, many of which are distinguished by their color — yellow, white, pink, or dark purple.

This article tells you everything you need to know about beets.

Nutritious Facts

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Beets mainly consist of water (87%), carbs (8%), and fiber (2–3%).

One cup (136 grams) of boiled beetroot contains fewer than 60 calories, while 3/4 cup (100 grams) of raw beets boasts the following nutrients (1Trusted Source):

• Calories: 43
• Water: 88%
• Protein: 1.6 grams
• Carbs: 9.6 grams
• Sugar: 6.8 grams
• Fiber: 2.8 grams
• Fat: 0.2 grams

Carbs

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Raw or cooked beetroot offers about 8–10% carbs.

Simple sugars — such as glucose and fructose — make up 70% and 80% of the carbs in raw and cooked beetroots, respectively.

Beetroots are also a source of fructans — short-chain carbs classified as FODMAPs. Some people cannot digest FODMAPs, causing unpleasant digestive symptoms.

Beetroots have a glycemic index (GI) score of 61, which is considered medium. The GI is a measure of how fast blood sugar levels rise after a meal (2).

On the other hand, the glycemic load of beetroots is only 5, which is very low.

This means that beetroots should not have a major effect on blood sugar levels because the total carb amount in each serving is low.

Fiber

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Beetroots are high in fiber, providing about 2–3 grams in each 3/4-cup (100-gram) raw serving.

Dietary fiber is important as part of a healthy diet and linked to a reduced risk of various diseases (3Trusted Source).

Vitamins and Minerals

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Beetroots are a great source of many essential vitamins and minerals.

• Folate (vitamin B9). One of the B vitamins, folate is important for normal tissue growth and cell function. It’s particularly necessary for pregnant women (4, 5Trusted Source).
• Manganese. An essential trace element, manganese is found in high amounts in whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables.
• Potassium. A diet high in potassium can lead to reduced blood pressure levels and positive effects on heart health (6Trusted Source).
• Iron. An essential mineral, iron has many important functions in your body. It’s necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells.
• Vitamin C. This well-known vitamin is an antioxidant that is important for immune function and skin health (7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).

Other Plant Compounds

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Plant compounds are natural plant substances, some of which may aid health.

The main plant compounds in beetroots are:

• Betanin. Also called beetroot red, betanin is the most common pigment in beetroots, responsible for their strong red color. It is believed to have various health benefits (9Trusted Source).
• Inorganic nitrate. Found in generous amounts in leafy green vegetables, beetroots, and beetroot juice, inorganic nitrate turns into nitric oxide in your body and has many important functions (10Trusted Source, 11, 12).
• Vulgaxanthin. A yellow or orange pigment found in beetroots and yellow beets.

Inorganic Nitrates

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Inorganic nitrates include nitrates, nitrites, and nitric oxide.

Beetroots and beetroot juice are exceptionally high in nitrates.

However, debate has swirled around these substances for a long time.”

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Read More … Article Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/beetroot#plant-compounds

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