Red Beetroot

Recently elevated to superfood status, red beetroot can improve athletic performance, lower blood pressure, and combat anaemia. Raw or boiled, it is amazing in salads, but it is also consumed in juice form, retaining all its properties intact.
Originating from the Mediterranean, red beetroot is a fleshy, sweet purple tuber belonging to the Chenopodiaceae family; the pigment responsible for its colouring is betalain, a powerful antioxidant capable of reducing LDL cholesterol, thus protecting the walls of the arteries.

Red beetroot can improve athletic performance, lower blood pressure, and combat anaemia.

Red beetroot has exceptional nutritional value; it is a concentrate of minerals (manganese, potassium, magnesium, iron), vitamins (folates, vitamin A, B6, and vitamin C), carbohydrates, proteins, and antioxidants.
The sugar contained in beetroot is released slowly, consequently presenting an extremely low glycemic load that helps maintain stable blood sugar levels.
The roots are an excellent source of folic acid and fibre, which have beneficial effects on intestinal functions, helping to prevent constipation and lower blood cholesterol levels. Folic acid is crucial in the development of the child's spinal cord and is therefore essential during pregnancy.

Red beetroot has exceptional nutritional value; it is a concentrate of minerals (manganese, potassium, magnesium, iron), vitamins (folates, vitamin A, B6, and vitamin C), carbohydrates, proteins, and antioxidants.

Red beetroot is used in cases of anaemia, a disorder characterised by an insufficient supply of oxygenated blood that generates fatigue. The tuber is indeed one of the main plant sources of iron, an essential nutrient for the formation of haemoglobin, the protein present in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen to various parts of the body.
Research has also shown that regular consumption of this vegetable can help counteract hypertension, as well as the associated risks, such as heart attacks and strokes. This is made possible by the high concentrations of nitrates which, once converted into nitrites by mouth bacteria, help dilate blood vessels in the body, contributing to lowering blood pressure.

Red beetroot also has a detoxifying effect, due not only to the antioxidants but also to betaine, a substance that promotes liver cleansing as it participates in the process of excreting toxins and other harmful substances.
It also appears that nitrates and betalains, with their antioxidant action, help preserve muscle functionality, reducing inflammation and promoting muscle recovery after exercise.
Finally, red beetroot contains silica, a mineral that helps the body utilise calcium, promoting musculoskeletal health and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.