Each month I will highlight the nutritional values of seasonal fruit and veggies, so check back each month.
January is the turn of the delicious and earthy beetroot!
Beetroot
Beetroot has enjoyed something of a deserved comeback in recent years – its earthy flavour and vibrant colour lends itself to a variety of both sweet and savoury dishes. It is also a functional food with huge health benefits.
TRY ME I’M GOOD IN… a beetroot tatin, a shaved, pickled beetroot and goats cheese salad, an immune supporting beetroot, carrot and ginger juice, or in a classic Borscht with sour cream and chives.
FACTS
· Beetroot was domesticated in the ancient Middle East, primarily for their greens, and were grown by the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans.
· By the Roman era, it is thought that they were cultivated for their roots as well.
· From the Middle Ages, beetroot was used as a treatment for a variety of conditions, especially illnesses relating to digestion and the blood.
· Genus: Brassica species Beta Vulgaris Rubra Family: Brassica oleracea
WHY IS IT SO GOOD?
Nutritional highlights – Brussels Sprouts can provide:
Vitamin C (100g = 6% RNI) an antioxidant that is important for immune function, the stress response and skin health.
Potassium (100g = 7% RNI) A diet high in potassium can lead to reduced blood pressure levels and positive effects on heart health
Folate (Vitamin B9) (100g = 20% RNI) An essential B vitamin, it is important for normal tissue growth and cell function and is necessary in pregnancy.
Manganese (100g = 14 % RNI) plays a role in fat and carbohydrate metabolism, calcium absorption and blood sugar regulation, and is also necessary for normal brain and nerve function.
Betanin. It’s high antioxidant and health benefitting activity stems from its exceptional electron donating capacity and ability to defuse highly reactive radicals targeting cell membranes.
Inorganic nitrate. Found in generous amounts in beetroots, and beetroot juice, inorganic nitrate turns into nitric oxide in your body and has many important functions.
Main health benefits
May help fight inflammation - Beetroot contains betalain pigments, which possess a number of anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce chronic inflammation.
May lower blood pressure - High blood pressure from constricted blood vessels could lead to heart attacks or strokes. Nitrates in beetroot help to lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels.
May improve digestive health - 100g of beetroot contains 3.4g of fibre that bypasses digestion and travels to the colon, where it feeds friendly gut bacteria and adds bulk to stools
May support brain health - The nitrates in beetroot may improve brain function by promoting the dilation of blood vessels and thus increasing blood flow to the brain.
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