A Good Mood Food - Love Beets (2024)

FAQs

A Good Mood Food - Love Beets? ›

A GOOD MOOD FOOD

Beets contain betaine, a substance that relaxes the mind and is used in other forms to treat depression. It also contains trytophan (also found in chocolate), which contributes to a sense of well being — and eating the beets will make you feel less guilty than eating the chocolate!

A GOOD MOOD FOOD

Beets contain betaine, a substance that relaxes the mind and is used in other forms to treat depression. It also contains trytophan (also found in chocolate), which contributes to a sense of well being — and eating the beets will make you feel less guilty than eating the chocolate!

Beets are naturally high in nitrates, which are turned into nitric oxide in the body. This compound lowers blood pressure by causing the blood vessels to relax and widen.

Did you know that there's a scientific reason that these little earth gems make you feel good? Now you do! Beets are a fantastic source of the chemical betaine anhydrous and the amino acid tryptophan, both of which are shown to improve your mood.

Additional research shows that beets are rich in antioxidant pigments called betalains, which may help protect against cellular damage and prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, a main cause of heart disease ( 11 , 12 ).

Can you eat beets everyday? It's always best to follow a varied diet. Eating a small amount of beetroot every day is unlikely to do any harm, but a high intake could lead to low blood pressure, red or black urine and feces, and digestive problems for anyone with a sensitivity to the nutrients.

Moreover, beets are low in calories with zero cholesterol and a small amount of fat. However, the root is high in sugar and carbohydrates, so while you can consume the greens on top of the root in unlimited quantities, you should only have the root a few times a week. Beets are best from early spring to late fall.

How Beets Cleanse Your Colon. Beets are rich in antioxidants and high in fiber that can help pull toxins into the colon where they can be evacuated. Because fiber isn't digested by your body like other food components, such as fats, proteins or carbohydrates, it feeds friendly gut bacteria.

Retain the good-for-you nutrients in beets by roasting them or sautéing them instead. Or lightly steam them for just a few minutes, suggests Doyle.

What organ are beets good for? ›

They're knobby, blood-red and give off a rich, earthy aroma. But it's certainly worth the effort to get to know this nutritionally dense root vegetable. “Beets are unique for their cardiovascular and heart health benefits,” says registered dietitian Sarah Thomsen Ferreira, RD.

Possible Reasons for Craving Beets

One possibility for craving beets is a deficiency in certain nutrients found in this root vegetable. For example, if you are low in iron, your body may send signals to your brain in the form of a craving for beets or other iron-rich foods.

Beets are high in potassium which helps to keep our hearts and blood pressure healthy by strengthening our muscle contractions. In addition, beets are also high in nitrates – which help increase our physical stamina when we exercise. Nitrates work by helping to widen the blood vessels to increase blood flow.

Although the exact mechanism is still under study, researchers believe that the natural nitrites in beet juice may act as blood vessel expanders, improving circulation. The widening of blood vessels not only enhances circulation but also reduces the risk of heart disease, atherosclerosis, and vascular disease.

As SuperBeets can lower blood pressure, if you already have low blood pressure or are on blood pressure medication, you might have a contraindication for taking this product. “The nitrates in beetroot can contribute to changes in blood pressure that may exacerbate pre-existing conditions,” notes Brownstein.

People with raised cholesterol often wonder if it's OK to eat eggs, as egg yolk is rich in cholesterol. Generally speaking, as part of a healthy, balanced diet, it should be fine for most people, as the cholesterol in eggs does not have a significant effect on blood cholesterol.

Not only does beetroot benefit our physical health, it can also help with reducing stress and anxiety. Uridine, a substance which helps maintain normal dopamine levels, is found in many beets and helps regulate brain health and controls the brain's reward, emotion, and pleasure centers.

EAT BEETS OFTEN

Blood pressure rises as your anxiety levels increase. It results in lightheadedness and dizziness, among other symptoms. Beets reduce blood pressure and are one of the best vegetables to eat when you feel your blood pressure increase.

A natural source of tryptophan, beets are a building block for protein, serotonin, and the hormone melatonin. Beets contain a substance called geosmin, which is responsible for that fresh soil scent in your garden following a spring rain.

Nitrate is the active substance

It is the high content of nitrate in the beetroot that is the key to better sleep. After consuming, this is converted to Nitric Oxide in the blood system. Nitric Oxide is essential for a number of physiological processes that take place in the body.