Beetroot – that’s how healthy the beetroot is

Beetroot (also: beetroot, red beet) has been consumed for several centuries. However, there is no wild form: The Romans made the beet popular in Europe, from which the beetroot was cultivated and refined. For many, it is mainly because of its color that it is remembered. Beetroot contains many valuable ingredients that can have a positive effect on our health.

Beetroot: ingredients such as iron

As a slightly sour side dish in herring salad or raw with other vegetables, it often gets little attention. In the past, it was assumed that beetroot juice had a blood-forming function due to its color. But it is not the red pigment betanin that makes the root vegetable so valuable: it is rather the ingredients contained in beetroot, vitamin B, folic acid  and  the trace element iron, which  are involved in blood formation  .

Beetroot juice is therefore often recommended for  iron deficiency  . However, the human body can better utilize animal iron. Nevertheless, beetroot is   a good source of iron for vegetarians , for example. It is advisable to take beetroot with  food and drinks rich in vitamin C  (e.g. orange juice) or as a raw beetroot salad, because many  nutrients  are lost during preparation.

Beetroot increases stamina

Scientists have found in studies that athletic endurance is increased by regularly drinking beetroot juice. In a comparison with currant juice of the same color, beetroot juice performed significantly better.

This is probably related to the excess nitrates in the beetroot juice, which the body converts into nitrites. These in turn react with the iron atoms during cell respiration of the enzymes.

Beetroot juice for high blood pressure

But beetroot juice has a completely different effect: high blood pressure  can be reduced quickly and significantly. Here, too, it is believed that this effect is triggered by the nitrates. Anyone suffering from high blood pressure would do well to drink half a liter of beetroot juice. 

The blood pressure-lowering effect can already be seen after one hour, the greatest effect occurs after about three to four hours. Since the positive effect can last up to 23 hours, patients with arterial hypertension can  achieve a clearly positive effect with just two glasses of beetroot juice a day  .

But be careful: beetroot also contains a lot of oxalic acid, which  can lead to the formation of kidney stones  . Those who are prone to kidney stones should only eat beetroot in small amounts.

Recipes with beetroot

Although beetroot is always good in a salad, for example with lamb’s lettuce and goat’s cheese or finely grated with apple and  lemon  , why not try an unknown beetroot recipe for once? After all, beetroot is healthy and goes well with many dishes.

Beetroot Soup

With this recipe you can quickly conjure up a  beetroot soup  for the cold days:

• a glass of beetroot
• 2 teaspoons large-leaved  parsley
• 2 EL Sahne
• optional salt and pepper or vegetable stock cubes
• sugar at will

The beetroot is briefly boiled (in its own juice) and seasoned with spices. Now puree finely and add the parsley and cream on the plate. The beetroot soup is ready!

Beetroot Orange Soup

If you have a little more time, you can also try a delicious beetroot and orange soup. Simply puree the beetroot with potatoes and half a liter of orange juice. Add broth and season with cinnamon, cayenne pepper, sherry and  ginger to taste  . Add a little salt and refine each serving with a teaspoon of crème fraîche and stalks of chives.

Beetroot carpaccio is also a great starter.

Boil beetroot

Important for all beetroot recipes and also for pickling is not to forget an apron and preferably  rubber gloves  when cooking ! The juice is difficult to get out of the clothes.

If you want to preserve beetroot, you should definitely pre-cook it beforehand. Then cut into small pieces and fill into glasses. Cook a broth of two thirds of water and one third of vinegar with finely chopped  garlic , onions,  cumin , salt and sugar and pour this into the glasses.

Beetroot is low in calories, both raw and canned  .  For comparison: the kcal value is even slightly below that of an apple. If you want to lose weight healthily through exercise and a balanced diet, you can kill two birds with one stone if you put recipes with beetroot on your menu, as the low-calorie vegetable also increases athletic performance.