Content
- 1 Which beets are healthier: raw or boiled?
- 2 Composition and nutritional value of boiled beets
- 3 The benefits of boiled beets for the human body
- 4 Features of taking boiled beets
- 5 How long can boiled beets last in the refrigerator?
- 6 Restrictions and contraindications for taking boiled beets
- 7 Conclusion
Beets are one of the healthiest vegetables. It contains a huge amount of nutrients and vitamins. Boiled beets are no less beneficial for the human body than raw ones. But there are also differences, including in terms of calorie content. This is important to consider when creating a diet and including boiled root vegetables in your daily diet.
Which beets are healthier: raw or boiled?
During heat treatment, the composition of the root vegetable changes slightly, so it is impossible to say unequivocally which vegetable is healthier, raw or boiled. But nutritionists say that boiled vegetables are more easily absorbed by the body. Raw beets contain substances that can weaken and cause digestive problems.During cooking, some vitamins may disappear, but also some fruit acids, which can irritate the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, also disappear. Therefore, the body absorbs the boiled product better.
Composition and nutritional value of boiled beets
The benefits of boiled beets for the body are due to its chemical composition. Per 100 grams of product there are:
- proteins - 1.7 g;
- fat - 0.2 g;
- carbohydrates - 7.6 g;
- water - 87 g;
- saturated fatty acids - 0.03 g;
- mono and disaccharides - 8 g;
- 2 g dietary fiber;
- ash - 1 g;
- beta-carotene - 0.02 g.
In addition, the boiled root vegetable contains vitamins A, group B, C, nicotinic acid, folic acid, as well as numerous micro- and macroelements. These are calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, manganese, copper, zinc, selenium.
Calorie content of boiled beets
Boiled beets have a calorie content per 100 g of product in the region of 43–50 kcal. The exact figure directly depends on the type of root crop. The raw product has lower calorie content, but the numbers differ slightly.
Glycemic index of boiled beets
The glycemic index of a boiled vegetable is 65. This is a fairly high indicator, and therefore the boiled root vegetable should be consumed carefully by those who have diabetes. The product may increase blood sugar. But this is only the case if you consume it in large quantities.
The benefits of boiled beets for the human body
Boiled root vegetables bring great benefits to the body. First of all, it strengthens blood vessels, cleanses the blood and removes harmful cholesterol from the body. Beetroot also helps increase hemoglobin and cleanses the liver. In addition, boiled root vegetables help:
- increase immunity and resist viral and infectious diseases;
- relieve stress and tidy up the nervous system;
- get rid of edema and prevent loss of fluid in the body;
- cleanse the intestines;
- establish metabolic processes in the body.
Nutritionists also recommend consuming the root vegetable to lose weight. There are even special beetroot diets that allow you to lose up to five kg in a week.
For men
Boiled beets are especially useful for the stronger sex. This root vegetable helps prevent prostate adenoma. In addition, there are studies confirming that regular consumption of the root vegetable helps rejuvenate sexual function and even treats sexual disorders.
For women
Women, first of all, benefit from taking the root vegetable during menstruation. This vegetable allows you to restore blood loss and also increase hemoglobin. This is especially true for women who experience increased blood loss during the menstrual period.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the benefits of vegetables for those who want to lose weight. This is an excellent diet option, especially since beets can discourage the desire to eat sweets and can control appetite. The best option for losing weight would be to prepare and consume a smoothie from root vegetables.
The benefits of boiled beets during pregnancy
The benefits of boiled root vegetables for pregnant women are very great. The root vegetable is simply necessary for pregnant women for the following reasons:
- the vegetable will not allow you to gain excess weight, which can contribute to difficult childbirth;
- will perfectly relieve anemia;
- relieves constipation;
- helps fight mood swings that are typical for pregnant women;
- Folic acid helps prevent developmental defects in the baby.
Is boiled beets okay for nursing mothers?
Now there is a lot of debate between experts, but in most cases, boiled beets are prohibited during lactation. This is due to the fact that the baby may develop an allergic reaction, as well as problems with stool.
At what age can you give boiled beets to children?
Pediatricians advise not to include root vegetables in children's menus until 7–8 months, and sometimes up to a year. The only exception is children prone to constipation. In this case, you can introduce the root vegetable into your diet starting from 5–6 months of age. The first feeding should be very small, after which the dosage can be gradually increased.
For older people
Boiled root vegetables are useful for older people, but you should carefully read the contraindications and consult a doctor. First of all, the benefit is that the root vegetable naturally reduces blood pressure. Therefore, beetroot salads are useful for hypertensive patients. But it is important that there are no problems with the kidneys, since the root vegetable contributes to the exacerbation of urolithiasis, as well as the formation of kidney stones. Also, in large quantities, beets can cause intestinal upset, so if you are prone to diarrhea, you should take the vegetable more carefully.
Among the positive properties for an elderly person: improves blood quality, gives energy, removes waste and toxins from the body.
Features of taking boiled beets
Boiled beets, their benefits and harm to the body may vary depending on the characteristics of the intake. You can eat the root vegetable with various ingredients, each of which has its own effect on the properties of the product.And also the use of the vegetable depends on the presence of chronic diseases and on the desired result. For example, with a beetroot diet, it is recommended to add olive oil to salads, which successfully reduces the glycemic index of the product.
Beets must be selected and cooked correctly. These should be small fruits, burgundy in color. Depending on the size, you need to cook the root vegetable for 40–70 minutes. It is better to check the readiness of the product with a knife or fork. For a diet, it is better to use beets without dressing with mayonnaise or sour cream. The best combination for weight loss is beets and low-fat kefir.
For gastrointestinal diseases
For gastritis and other problems with the gastrointestinal tract, the vegetable should be consumed carefully and only in boiled form. Raw root vegetables will cause severe irritation. When cooking, the following rules must be observed:
- boil the root vegetable in its skin;
- salting the vegetable is not recommended;
- You can replace the cooking process with a baking process.
There are so many recipes that are considered optimal for gastritis and other gastrointestinal pathologies:
- Take the root vegetable, boil according to all the rules, then peel and cut into small cubes. Add pre-scalded prunes there, season it all with low-fat sour cream.
- Boil several vegetables (potatoes, beets, carrots). Peel and grate them all, you can chop them finely, if desired. And also grate the cheese into the dish and season everything with oil, preferably olive oil.
- You can also cook beetroot soup. This is a soup based on boiled root vegetables, also with the addition of herbs, boiled carrots, and also with the addition of green onions and cucumbers.
The soup is made cold, with kefir or kvass.
With proper consumption of boiled vegetables, the stomach is activated, the gastrointestinal tract is cleansed, cholesterol is removed, the intestines are cleansed, and toxins are removed. But experts emphasize that in the acute stage of gastritis and ulcers, even boiled beets should be consumed in minimal quantities.
The benefits and harms of boiled beets for the liver
Cleansing the liver using boiled beets at home is quick, cheap and convenient. The benefit of the vegetable in this case is that it is able to normalize lipid metabolism and remove all toxins, which will greatly facilitate the work of the liver and relieve the organ. The vegetable contains beatine, which significantly improves liver performance.
But there are conditions in which it is forbidden to take beets in large quantities, much less carry out manipulations to cleanse the liver. These are urolithiasis, exacerbation of gastritis, diabetes mellitus, chronic diarrhea. In any case, it is recommended to first consult a specialist.
There are several simple but very effective recipes for cleansing the liver:
- Boil and grate the root vegetable. Roll the resulting mass into balls approximately the size of a walnut. Eat one ball before meals for two weeks.
- Beet soup puree. Boil the root vegetable with the addition of carrots, potatoes, and onions. Grind all vegetables into puree using a blender and consume for three days, 200 grams every 2-3 hours.
- You can simply eat beet salads by putting yourself on an appropriate diet, but in this case it is recommended to exclude most foods, including sweets, baked goods, fatty foods, processed and fatty meats, and everything fried.
Experts strongly recommend performing a liver cleanse after the intestinal detoxification procedure, since then the effectiveness will be much higher.
The benefits of boiled beets with garlic
Adding garlic makes the vegetable very tasty and adds benefits to it. There have been fans of this use of beets all over the world since ancient times.
Root vegetables with the addition of garlic are beneficial for the following properties:
- the presence of essential oil will help get rid of colds and strengthen the immune system;
- it is an excellent anti-infective agent;
- fiber will cleanse the body and improve intestinal motility;
- both products have a positive effect on blood vessels and cardiac activity;
- Both beets and garlic contain niacin and many B vitamins.
As a result, the combination of two products useful for the body can only have a positive impact on the functioning of all organs and systems.
Is it possible to eat boiled beets every day?
Boiled red beets are beneficial for almost everyone. But whether you can eat it every day depends on many factors. First of all, it depends on age. Very young children under one year of age should be given even boiled beets in minimal quantities and only after consultation with a pediatrician. Elderly people with certain diseases are also not recommended to get carried away with this vegetable.
A healthy adult can eat beets every day. You should not get carried away if there are contraindications and exacerbations of chronic gastrointestinal pathologies. It should also be borne in mind that if you have a weak intestine, taking beets daily can lead to diarrhea.
How long can boiled beets last in the refrigerator?
If the root vegetable is pre-cleaned, it can be stored in the refrigerator for three days.But it is important to understand that the sooner you use it, the more beneficial substances your body will receive.
It is recommended to use the unpeeled root vegetable within four days. Otherwise it won't be as useful. If a vegetable is cooked in large quantities and you can’t use it right away, it’s better to simply grate it and freeze it in airtight containers in portions. Then the shelf life increases to two months.
Restrictions and contraindications for taking boiled beets
For some conditions and pathologies, it is not recommended to eat boiled beets. Such restrictions include:
- chronic diarrhea;
- constant low blood pressure;
- diabetes;
- exacerbation of gastrointestinal pathologies with high acidity;
- osteoporosis;
- urolithiasis disease;
- allergic reaction;
- breastfeeding period.
For example, you can eat red beets for gastritis, but only until an exacerbation occurs and the acidity increases.
Conclusion
Boiled beets are beneficial for the human body - this is a proven fact. But, like any product, it must be consumed in the right dishes and in moderation. Then you will be able to cleanse your liver, lose weight, and bring your blood pressure back to normal.
