MyChiroClub - MYRTLE BEACH CAROLINA FOREST CHIROPRACTOR FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
  • Home
  • Meet Our Providers
    • Dr. Neal Lange
    • Dr. Steve Garlinger
  • Research Reports
    • Accelerated Aging and Subluxation
    • Antibiotics
    • Aspirin: Helpful or Hazardous?
    • Asthma
    • Cervical Curve
    • Challenging the Theory of Artificial Immunity
    • Children's Immune System
    • CNS and the Immune System
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Headaches
    • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
    • Genetics & Human Potential
    • Inflammation and the Healing Process
    • Occupational Health
    • Osteoporosis
    • Restoring the Balance
    • Side-FX
    • Subluxation
    • Athletic Performance
  • Office Tour
    • What is Chiropractic?
  • Services Available
    • Nutrition Response Testing
    • Dry Needling Therapy
    • Car Accident Care
    • Functional Medicine >
      • Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis
      • Bioidentical Hormones
      • Iodine Deficiency
      • Cardiometabolic Risk Screening
      • Understanding Hormones Highs and Lows
      • Comprehensive Stool Analysis
      • Estrogen Dominance
    • Cold Laser Therapy
    • Footlevelers Orthotics
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Purchase Supplements
  • Purchase Standard Process
  • BLOG

Myrtle Beach Carolina Forest Chiropractic Functional Medicine Blog

BEET YOR WAY TO HEALTH

5/29/2019

0 Comments

 
​Red beetroot (Beta vulgaris rubra) has been gaining popularity as a functional food that has potential to prevent disease and promote health. Beets belong to the chenopod family along with other foods such as chard, spinach, and quinoa. They have been used throughout history as a treatment for numerous ailments, and still evoke an emotional response from people who either love them or have an intense dislike for them. According to research, beetroot is being considered in the treatment of pathologies related to oxidative stress, inflammation, detoxification, cognition, and endothelial function. The betalains are not only what give beets their red color but also function as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory molecules. Beets are a great source of fiber, folate, manganese, potassium, Vitamin C, and nitrates. Unlike nitrites found in processed meats which are not healthy, nitrates found in beets are responsible for the health promoting benefits they provide. When beets are consumed, oral microbiota reduce dietary nitrate (NO3-) to nitrite (NO2-) where some of it is reduced to Nitric Oxide (NO) in the stomach and absorbed into circulation. Interestingly, spitting out saliva or using oral anti-bacterial mouthwash reduced the nitrate-nitrite conversion.
By increasing beetroot consumption, the body has a natural means to increase in vivo NO availability which relaxes and widen blood vessels, supporting blood pressure regulation.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high blood pressure increased the risk for heart disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, and is associated with more than 1,100 deaths per day. While hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, it is also one of the leading preventable causes of premature death and disability. Numerous studies have suggested the beneficial effects of beetroot for cardiovascular health. A 2013 Meta Analysis reported that inorganic nitrate and beetroot juice supplementation was associated with a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure. Since hypertension accounts for $48.6 billion each year from medications, missed days or work, and health care services, beetroot should be considered as an easy and inexpensive dietary intervention and component of healthy lifestyle interventions to control blood pressure levels. Based on the results of a study at the British Heart Foundation, researchers suggested that daily intake of inorganic nitrate can be as effective as medical intervention in reducing blood pressure. Betaine supplementation has also been shown to be effective in reducing plasma homocysteine levels. This is important since a high level of homocysteine is a risk factor for heart disease. According to researchers, “The homocysteine-lowering effects of betaine can most likely be ascribed to an increase in betaine- dependent methylation of homocysteine into methionine due to increased betaine availability and enhanced activity of the enzyme BHMT in both the liver and kidney.”
Research also points to numerous other benefits of using beets to improve the following:
  • Digestion: Beets are a good source of fiber which can improve digestive health and protect against constipation, hemorrhoids, and diverticulitis. Fiber also slows down digestion resulting in better blood sugar control. A 2018 rat studysuggested additional benefits on intestinal function and reported that betaine enhanced digestive enzymes and enriched the intestinal microbiota.
  • Brain Health: Since nitric oxide relaxes and dilates blood vessels, it also increases blood flow to the brain which may lead to better brain function. In older adults, dietary nitrate may compensate for age-related endothelial dysfunction and associated diseases by improving the amount of blood flow to specific areas known to be involved in executive functioning.
  • Athletic Performance: Consuming beets within three hours of training may enhance physical performance, stamina, and recovery in athletes. A 2018 study found that beetroot juice may improve performance at intermittent, high-intensity efforts with short rest periods.
  • Liver Health: Betaine has also been found to be a hepatoprotective agent used to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) via decreased oxidative stress.
  • Weight Loss: Diets with increased fruit and vegetable intake have been shown to enhance weight loss. Packed full of vitamins and minerals, no fat, and good fiber, beets are a low calorie nutrient dense choice when trying to shed some pounds.
Some simple ways to prepare fresh beets include grating raw beets into a salad, sautéing the beet greens for a side dish, juicing them in a drink, or steaming then marinating the beets with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh herbs. Also consider beets in a wide array of foods to provide a natural red color loaded with other benefits. Of course, don’t be alarmed if you incorporate beets into your diet and your urine turns red, this is a (harmless) common side effect called beeturia. In addition, those prone to kidney stones or gout should eat beets with caution since they are high in oxalates.


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    December 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013

    Categories

    All
    Achilles
    Adjustment
    Boxing
    Carolina Forest
    Chiropractic
    Golf
    Google
    Hearing
    Kids
    MyChiroClub
    MyChiroKidzClub
    Myrtle Beach
    Nervous System
    Preventative Care
    Stress
    Subluxation

    RSS Feed

    FREE consultation
Picture
843-236-4400
4012 Postal Way
Suite A
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579


Copyright © 2014-2021. MyChiroClub. All Rights Reserved. "MyChiroClub" is a registered trademark owned by Neal Lange. 
  • Home
  • Meet Our Providers
    • Dr. Neal Lange
    • Dr. Steve Garlinger
  • Research Reports
    • Accelerated Aging and Subluxation
    • Antibiotics
    • Aspirin: Helpful or Hazardous?
    • Asthma
    • Cervical Curve
    • Challenging the Theory of Artificial Immunity
    • Children's Immune System
    • CNS and the Immune System
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Headaches
    • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
    • Genetics & Human Potential
    • Inflammation and the Healing Process
    • Occupational Health
    • Osteoporosis
    • Restoring the Balance
    • Side-FX
    • Subluxation
    • Athletic Performance
  • Office Tour
    • What is Chiropractic?
  • Services Available
    • Nutrition Response Testing
    • Dry Needling Therapy
    • Car Accident Care
    • Functional Medicine >
      • Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis
      • Bioidentical Hormones
      • Iodine Deficiency
      • Cardiometabolic Risk Screening
      • Understanding Hormones Highs and Lows
      • Comprehensive Stool Analysis
      • Estrogen Dominance
    • Cold Laser Therapy
    • Footlevelers Orthotics
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Purchase Supplements
  • Purchase Standard Process
  • BLOG