Raw beets: benefits and harms to the body, recipes, comparison with boiled vegetables
The question of whether it is possible to eat raw beets arises for many. Difficulties also arise with what recipes can be used to prepare delicious dishes from raw beets. This article will tell you more about the benefits and harms of fresh root vegetables for the body, as well as what delicious dishes you can cook from this vegetable.
Compound
A detailed examination of the components that are present in beets, it becomes obvious that root crops contain a huge amount of elements from the periodic table. Such a rich mineral composition has contributed in many ways to the fact that beets are used with great success in traditional medicine.
In root crops found:
- sodium;
- chromium;
- potassium;
- nickel;
- calcium;
- boron;
- sulfur;
- magnesium;
- chlorine;
- phosphorus;
- iodine;
- manganese;
- copper.
Present in root crops and amino acids. They are an important "building material" that the cells of the human body need for their daily work. They also contain arginine and histidine.
The content of essential dietary nutrients (BZHU) plays an important role in the preparation of a balanced diet. People who carefully monitor their body parameters are aware that the calorie content of raw and boiled beets is slightly different. So, 100 grams of fresh root vegetables contain only 40 calories.At the same time, the main energy value is made up of various saccharides, which are combined into a group of carbohydrates.
100 grams of raw root vegetables contain 1.62 g of protein. There is practically no fat in this vegetable - only 0.16 g per 100 grams.
Many in root crops and various sugars. Fresh beets contain both mono- and disaccharides. These components provide a special sweetish taste of vegetables. You can determine the presence of sugars by drinking beetroot juice. This healthy drink contains a lot of vegetable sugar.
The relatively high content of natural sugars in beetroot juice makes it suitable for making healthy desserts. Fans of healthy sweets can cook themselves beetroot marmalade. This delicacy goes well with tea.
Beets should be eaten fresh as they contain a lot of water. The cells of the human body need fluid. The peculiarity of beetroot juice is that all useful minerals and active substances are in a dissolved state. In this form, they are better absorbed by the body.
People who have tried fresh beetroot have probably noted a slight sourness in taste. It is due to the organic acids contained in the roots. These substances are extremely useful, as they improve the digestion process. The juice made from freshly dug root crops contains more organic acids that are beneficial to the body.
The taste properties of root crops are largely determined by the variety. There are a huge number of varieties that have a pronounced sweet taste. Climate and watering also affect the taste of vegetables.
In hot summers, without frequent watering, beets become less tasty, they also lose their unique sweetness.
Benefits for the body
Dietary fiber is contained in root crops in large quantities. They are needed to keep the intestines active. During digestion, dietary fiber cleans the walls of the large intestine from food debris. They also help to reduce the "bad" microorganisms that can impair the digestion of food. Vegetable fibers contained in root vegetables also promote the growth of "good" microorganisms that live in the large intestine and are necessary for maintaining a healthy microflora.
A decrease in the concentration of "good" bacteria in the intestine will lead to the development of symptoms of flatulence and the appearance of pain in the abdomen. The inclusion of beets in the diet is a good prevention of irritable bowel syndrome and other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. A person should consume vegetable fiber for health every day.
Root vegetables are rich in beta-carotene. It ensures the maintenance of good vision. Also, beta-carotene is an essential component that ensures the beauty of the skin, hair and nails. With regular use of beta-carotene, the general well-being of a person also improves. Also, this component ensures the maintenance of the body's defenses.
Still, you should not eat raw beets on an empty stomach, as this can contribute to the appearance of pain in the stomach. It is highly likely that such an unpleasant symptom will appear in a person suffering from gastritis or other chronic stomach disease. The best time to eat raw beetroot salads is at lunchtime and in the afternoon.If desired, a delicious dish of raw root vegetables can be prepared for dinner.
People who eat dishes from raw root vegetables note that they notice an increase in tone. The minerals contained in this vegetable help increase stamina and even the body's resistance to stress.
Beets are also useful for people suffering from hypertension. The composition of root crops contains substances that have a beneficial effect on the vascular walls and myocardium. This effect helps to reduce the risk of dangerous complications of hypertension. As a result, tolerance to physical activity also increases.
Raw beets contain a whole complex of active substances that can favorably influence the rate of metabolic processes. The use of root crops helps to "remove" unnecessary metabolites and toxins from the body. Such an effect helps to cleanse the internal environment of the body from dangerous substances, which leads to an improvement in the functioning of internal organs.
We should not forget about the use of raw root crops and people who have a high risk of developing oncology. Root crops contain a whole range of components that can reduce the risk of malignant cells forming in the body. Regular inclusion of raw vegetables in the diet is a good measure to prevent cancer and dangerous neoplasms.
When eating raw beets, people with diabetes should remember that they contain quite a lot of "fast" carbohydrates. They are able to be rapidly absorbed into the blood, leading to the development of transient hyperglycemia.Before including raw beetroot dishes in your diet, people with diabetes should definitely consult an endocrinologist about this.
Raw beets help reduce the risk of developing iron deficiency pathologies. These pathological conditions are more common in women of reproductive age.
A separate question is whether expectant mothers can use beets. You can eat beets during pregnancy, but only in boiled or baked form. You should not eat raw beets during pregnancy. The many active ingredients found in raw root crops can cause adverse symptoms in a woman. For example, after eating raw beetroot salads, the risk of flatulence increases.
Harm
Not everyone can eat raw beets. In this form, root crops contain an abundance of active ingredients that can worsen well-being. Basically, raw root crops are limited for people with chronic diseases of the digestive system. You should not eat this vegetable raw with peptic ulcer and gastritis.
Raw beets contain a whole complex of organic acids that can irritate the mucous membranes of the digestive tract. The presence of ulcers or erosions in the stomach is another contraindication for eating raw vegetables. The acids contained in root crops can lead to an aggravation of the course of the disease.
Most people tolerate beets well without experiencing any adverse allergic symptoms. However, there are those who cannot eat beets, as they are allergic to this vegetable. The presence of an allergic pathology is a restriction for the use of this vegetable.
Also, you can not eat root crops and people who have an individual intolerance to them. Usually this pathology is detected after the first use of this vegetable. Individual intolerance is a condition that persists throughout life. If this pathological condition has been identified, then experimenting with nutrition through the introduction of "forbidden" foods should not be, as it can lead to extremely dangerous consequences.
The tendency to develop internal bleeding is another contraindication for eating raw root crops. The active components contained in raw beets can affect blood vessels. Such an action can provoke the development of internal bleeding in the presence of vascular pathology. The presence of any vascular disease is a reason to consult a doctor before including raw beets in the diet.
Many people consume beets with garlic. This dish is especially popular with men. When using a spicy vegetable salad, you should remember that you can eat it only in the absence of serious heart disease. Raw beets and garlic contain active compounds that can affect heart rate.
You should not use raw beets and people who suffer from severe kidney disease, accompanied by kidney failure. The use of root vegetables can aggravate the course of the disease, as well as contribute to the appearance of complications. People suffering from urolithiasis should definitely discuss this with their doctor before including raw root crops in their diet.
When eating raw beets, you should also remember that it is advisable to choose for cooking only those root crops that were grown in environmentally friendly places. During their growth, root crops can absorb many substances and mineral salts that process the soil. So vegetables can contain nitrates and even pesticides.
The use of such root crops with a high degree of probability will contribute to food poisoning. In order to avoid this, it is better to choose and buy beets from trusted sellers. Vegetables grown in your own backyard are the safest.
Is a boiled vegetable healthier?
Beets contain many useful substances for the body. This vegetable should be eaten both raw and boiled. However, in certain cases, it is better to give preference to fresh root crops. So, for example, raw beet salads should be consumed by people suffering from problems with stool regularity.
The active substances and vegetable fiber present in raw beets will help normalize bowel function, which will lead to getting rid of constipation. For prevention, eat a salad of fresh beets should be 1 time per week. With persistent constipation, the amount of raw vegetables in the diet can be increased, bringing it up to three times in 7 days.
Juice obtained from raw beets is recommended for people suffering from hypo- and beriberi. The abundance of vitamins and ascorbic acid are the components that the cells of the human body need. When drinking beetroot juice, remember that it is quite concentrated, so it is better to dilute it with water before taking it.
People who would like to improve their figure often wonder if they can eat raw beets.Of course, they can include this raw vegetable in their menu. The calorie content of raw beets is slightly lower than that of boiled beets.
Moreover, in its raw form, the vegetable has a rather concentrated specific taste, so it is simply impossible to eat it in large quantities.
Recipes
Delicious cooking raw beets is quite simple. To do this, you just need very few available products, as well as some free time and culinary imagination. Most often, raw beets are used to make salads.
From these root crops, you can make a healthy salad that will help you lose weight. It is not only suitable for people on diets, but also for those who just want to improve their figure a little. To make such a delicious dish, take:
- raw beets - 1 pc.;
- apple - ½ piece;
- lemon juice - 1 tsp;
- honey - ½ tsp;
- sesame oil - 1 tbsp. l.;
- some salt;
- fresh parsley.
Raw beets and apples should be cut into long thin strips. Refueling is ready in seconds. To do this, the oil should be mixed with citrus juice and honey. The finished salad must be salted, pour dressing into it and mix thoroughly. Garnish with finely chopped parsley before serving.
This salad helps to increase intestinal motility, and also helps to reduce swelling. People who are just watching their weight, but are not obese, can add a few chopped walnuts to this salad.
Irregular bowel movements and a tendency to constipation are complex problems faced by many. You can improve your well-being by adding dishes containing raw beets to your menu. For example, to improve bowel function, the following dish is suitable. To prepare it, take:
- prunes - 150 g;
- grated raw beets on a coarse grater - 350 g;
- sunflower oil for dressing;
- some salt.
Prunes are cut into long strips. After that, it must be mixed with shabby beets. Salad should be salted to taste and seasoned with a small amount of sunflower oil.
When eating such a dish, you should remember that it has a strong effect on the functioning of the intestines. Increased stool occurs already, as a rule, on the second day after eating this dish.
Recommendations
Eating only one raw beet is quite difficult. An organism that is not ready for this can react in the most unexpected way. In order for raw beets not to cause harm, it should be introduced into the diet gradually. The initial dose should not exceed a couple of tablespoons.
After the first injection, you should definitely assess your well-being. If gas formation has increased in the abdomen, pain has appeared and frequent stools have developed, then the amount of raw beets should be reduced. If after that the unpleasant symptoms persist, then in this case, you should seek the advice of a doctor.
Raw vegetables are great for making various salads. Such dishes are not only low in calories, but also bring great benefits to the body. Dressing for vegetable salads made from raw beets can be very diverse. When adding dressing to a dish, remember that this leads to an increase in calories. People who follow their figure or adhere to any diet should keep this in mind.
In order to "get used" to the new taste of raw beets, the body needs time. The human brain is capable of storing memories for quite a long time.In the unconscious human memory, the taste of boiled beets is usually preserved, since it is in this form that the vegetable is most often eaten. That is why the introduction of raw food into the diet is often perceived by the brain as something new and in many cases “unpleasant”.
This period of adaptation to a new taste is temporary. After a few weeks, the attitude towards the taste of raw beets will gradually begin to change. In order for the introduction to take place in the best way, when using them, you should “shift” your perception of the fact that they are not tasty, to the fact that raw vegetables are extremely useful for the body.
Don't forget about mixing flavors. Eating just one raw beetroot is usually not very pleasant. Mixing this root crop with other vegetables contributes to the fact that the taste of raw vegetables is no longer perceived as “sharp”. For cooking, choose recipes that contain your favorite ingredients. In this case, salads and vegetable snacks will not only benefit the body, but also deliver gastronomic pleasure.
When eating raw beets, be sure to keep the quantity in mind. Nutrition experts advise that you should not eat more than 200 grams of beets per day. Exceeding the recommended dosage is a common cause of the development of unpleasant symptoms in the abdomen. If, after even 200 grams of raw beets, gas formation or other unpleasant symptoms of flatulence appear per day, then the amount of raw vegetables should be halved.
People who have tried raw beets at least once note that after eating them, they felt a slight “tingling” sensation and even a burning sensation in the throat and oropharynx. The appearance of such a symptom is quite understandable.The fact is that raw beetroot juice contains quite a lot of organic acids, which can cause slight irritation when it comes into contact with mucous membranes.
You should not be afraid for the appearance of this symptom. People who want to reduce the severity of this clinical sign may be advised to thoroughly gargle with plain water after eating dishes containing raw beets. When drinking beetroot juice, it is better to use a straw. All these measures will help reduce the possibility of perspiration in the throat.
Reviews of people who regularly consume raw beets indicate that they have improved well-being. With the systematic intake of dishes prepared from raw beets, there is a feeling of cheerfulness, increased efficiency and improved mood.
You can eat salads made from raw beets at almost any time of the day. However, proponents of traditional medicine recommend do not eat such foods at night. The fact is that raw beets contain active substances that can enhance the work of gastric cells. This can increase the secretion of gastric secretion, which in the evening will only lead to pain in the epigastric region.
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