Can’t Beat A Beet

Can’t Beat A Beet

Published February 18, 2012

Did you know beets are a natural cleanser helping to remove toxins from the body and nourish the bloodstream? Not only can beets help cleanse the liver and purify the blood, they also aid in digestion and stimulate lymphatic activity. Beets contain powerful nutrients that can help protect against heart disease, birth defects, and certain cancers such as colon cancer.

Botanically known as Beta vulgaris, the beet evolved from their wild ancestor known as sea beet, which is a native of the coastlines of Northern Africa, Southern Asia and Europe. The root was carrot shaped and during early times the beet greens were eaten rather than the roots. At first, the ancient Romans were mostly interested in beets for medicine, however they are believed to be one of the first civilizations to cultivate beetroot for food.

Amongst other ailments, the Romans used beetroot in curative broths as a treatment for fever, constipation, and other ailments. They also considered beetroot juice as an aphrodisiac. It wasn’t until the sixteenth century the rounded root shape we’re familiar with today was developed, and became popular in Central and Eastern Europe a couple of hundred years later. Over the millennia beetroot has been used to treat a variety of conditions, especially illnesses related to digestion and the blood. Today the beetroot is still championed as a universal cure-all.

Raw beetroots contain folate, niacin, biotin, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C. They’re low in fat and high in complex carbohydrates, providing our body with fuel and fibre. During pregnancy, folate is important for normal fetal development and folate also aids in the formation of red blood cells. Potassium, along with sodium, helps to regulate the water balance and acid-alkaline balance in the blood and tissues. The pigment batacyanin, which gives beets their rich purple-crimson colour, is a powerful cancer-fighting agent and its effectiveness against colon cancer in particular has been demonstrated in several studies. Iron improves energy, prevents anemia and provides each cell with oxygen to function better, and the iron in beet juice is noted for being more easily assimilated than other forms of iron supplements.

Beets may also help to lower levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) while raising levels of beneficial cholesterol (HDL) which can improve cardiovascular health. Beetroots are also known to have the ability to counter damaging effects on the liver. Over the last four centuries beetroot has been used for the treatment of hepatitis and has been thought to be beneficial for the detoxification of the liver. Theories suggest the high concentrations of betaine found in beets help support and detoxify the liver by limiting fat deposits. Betaine is also known to lessen inflammation and also play a role in reducing homocysteine of which high levels of homocysteine are associated with cardiovascular disease.

We know that fresh fruits and vegetables provide us with a broad spectrum of essential nutrients and fibre necessary for proper digestion, assimilation and whole body health. They provide phytochemicals, enzymes and antioxidants and consuming them the way nature intended in their raw form is usually the best, however, some vegetables do need to be cooked otherwise they would be very hard to eat. Because cooking destroys valuable enzymes, which are essential for the thousands of chemical reactions that occur throughout the body, juicing provides a means to ensure we’re getting the maximum amount of nutrients available.

Available in a ready to mix powder, AIM RediBeets® provides a convenient way to enjoy the benefits beetroot has to offer without all the extra work and mess. The half pound of beets used to make a teaspoon of AIM RediBeets® is residue-free. When the beets are processed to separate the juice and its valuable nutrients from the fiber, the beets are not subjected to high temperatures that may damage their nutrients. AIM uses only the root of red beets and it takes approximately 25 pounds of beets to make one pound of AIM RediBeets® powder.

Considering the powerhouse of nutrition and all the benefits beets have to offer, it makes good sense to consume them as part of our dietary routine to help maintain whole body health, prevent illness and provide us with total wellness. When it comes to good wholesome food, you sure can’t beat a beet!

Click here to learn more about AIM RediBeets® and make your purchase.

Click here to download the AIM (Canada) RediBeets® datasheet (PDF).

AIM products are intended to improve the nutritional profile of the individuals who use them.
This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
As with any nutritional supplement it is always recommended to read the literature thoroughly to find out if the product is right for you, and consult your health care practitioner if you have any medical conditions or concerns.

Article by Joanne Jackson, CHN