Beetroot for a clean bill of health

Apr 11, 2011

DOES high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, anaemia, name it, give you sleepless nights? Well, worry not, beetroot might be the answer to your problem.

By Viqué-Ocean Kahinju
DOES high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, anaemia, name it, give you sleepless nights? Well, worry not, beetroot might be the answer to your problem.

According to Dr. Gregory Byekwaso, a nutritionist at Healthy Living Centre in Kampala, beetroot has enormous health benefits.

“The vegetable is a good source of energy,” Byekwaso says. The wonder vegetable contains lots of easily digestible and soluble carbohydrates and sugars. It also has less protein (amino acids) and fat that help one guard against weight gain.

The vegetable’s red colour tells a lot about its iron content. The juice aids the formation of blood.

The vegetable increases supply of fresh oxygen to the body and aids the cardiovascular system to function well. Many people eat the vegetable when anaemic to restore red blood cells. Beetroot is also high in minerals that fight cancerous cells.

“Much as the vegetable is good for one’s health, one should consult a health expert before consuming it,” Byekwaso cautions.

“People suffering from kidney stones are advised not to take the fruit because of its high oxalate levels, especially in the leaves,” he adds. Beetroot is also rich in fibre which aids the digestive system and reduces cholesterol.

The vegetable is also rich in folate (folic acid) which is vital for pregnant women because it aids development of the foetus.

Beetroot is also high in potassium which guards against hypertension. “It is advisable to buy beetroot with its leaves and stalk attached because they are equally healthy,” Byekwaso adds.

Roshani Mohammad, a nutritionist at Indian Natural Remedy Centre in Kampala says the elements embedded in beetroot have the capacity to clean the kidneys and gall bladder. Beetroot also helps clean up the body by removing toxins.

The vegetable is rich in alkaline minerals including calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iodine and copper which are essential for the absorption of vitamins. The vegetable is also high in Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and C.

The vegetable’s fruits are recommended for treatment of gastric ulcers, and boosting immunity especially in children and pregnant women.

Are you looking for a solution to jaundice, hepatitis, nausea and vomiting? Then look no farther, beetroot can nip these conditions in the bud. Although relatively rare, beetroot has potentially serious consequences for maternal and foetal health, thus shoud not be consumed more than twice a week.

According to Roshani, the vegetable is valuable in the treatment of arteriosclerosis (the thickening and stiffening of artery walls from too much pressure). The common sites for arteriosclerosis are arteries in the brain, kidneys, heart, abdominal aorta and legs.

“Arteriosclerosis can manifest as chest pain or heart attack. These symptoms, however, might also indicate obstruction of the coronary arteries,” Roshani cautions. Arteriosclerosis can also cause erectile dysfunction.

BEETROOT RECIPE
Moses Ssenoga, a naturopathic doctor at Mukago Herbal Sanitarium recommends that beetroot be diluted with other juices for example, carrot, cucumber or celery.

Ingredients
1 small beetroot (the small ones are sweeter)
2 large carrots
1 stalk of celery

Method
Wash the vegetables in clean water and scrub with a stiff vegetable brush. Peel, slice and place them in a blender. Add a little water and crush till fine. Sieve and serve.

You can add apples in the place of the carrots. The green beetroot top is also edible, and juice can be extracted.

Compiled by Agnes Kyotalengerire

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