Latest update January 7th, 2025 4:10 AM
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Beetroot— the ‘super food’ that lowers the risk of heart disease
Shawn Winter (in white jersey) showing NAREI’s CEO, Dr. Oudho Homenauth, some of his beetroot plants
Beetroot, also known as beet, is an ancient food that has been gaining popularity due to its ability to treat ailments – notably, heart disease, fevers, constipation, blood pressure – and improve athletic performance.
Most importantly, it is wonderful for the liver and the kidney—our two major blood filtering systems. The high value crop has been used as a means of natural medicine for thousands of years.
The taste is described as sweet and earthy, and it is tender to eat. It can be enjoyed raw and uncooked, as cooking may destroy most of its nutrients. It can also be eaten in salad or made into juice. Drinking beetroot juice is more efficient in helping to improve cardiac and immunity function.
Proprietor of Juice Power, Michael Jupiter explained that he started making beetroot juice to sell about two years ago after learning about its benefits. He said that the vegetable is popular among those diagnosed with sickle cell anemia and persons with heart disease.
The vegetable is being imported and sold at various supermarkets. The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI)’s extension officers are currently providing technical support to a farmer in Region Six, Shawn Winter, who brought the seeds from overseas and planted it in his farm.
“We are helping him to manage the high value crop from pests and monitor its growth,” NAREI’s extension officer, Candy Thomas explained.
One cup of raw beet has 58 calories, 106 milligrams sodium, 13 grams carbohydrate, 4 grams dietary fibre, 9 grams sugar, 2 grams protein, 148 micrograms folate, 6 milligrams vitamin C, 0.1 milligrams vitamin B6, 0.01 micrograms thiamin, 0.1 milligrams riboflavin, 0.5 milligrams niacin, 0.2
Beetroot
milligrams pantothenic acid, 0.4 milligrams manganese, 442 milligrams potassium, 31 milligrams magnesium, 1 milligram iron, 54 milligrams phosphorus, 0.1 milligrams copper, 106 milligrams sodium, 0.5 milligrams zinc and 21 milligrams calcium.
The ‘super food’ can also treat menstrual disorder and menopause indications, inflammation and constipation, iron deficiency and anemia, acts as an anti-aging cure for skin, improve mood and mental state, prevent birth defects and help to slow the progression of dementia.
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