How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

"A tale that begins with a beet will end with the devil", wrote Tom Robbins in Jitterbug Perfume. For good reason too - cooking with red beets leaves the hands looking blood-stained. A chef who slaughters beets cannot hide - only run from the scene of their culinary crime!

Despite their nefarious look, beets' blood-red color and earthy complexity give rise to numerous health benefits. The pleasing sweetness and warm satisfaction of beets have earned them a sentimental role in the traditional meals of Eastern Europe.

Beets are sweet with an earthy, bitter aftertaste. When taken raw, they are sharper, hotter, more fibrous and astringent. Raw beets are tougher and more feverish overall. One of our students noticed this quality, reporting, "My heartbeat increased almost immediately after I ate beets. Twenty minutes later my face turned red".

When cooked, beets become more mellow. Sweet and less astringent, the flesh becomes soft and "easy to chew".

Earthy and sweet, beets are the perfect cleansing and nourishing option for early spring. Those with a heat-imbalance or depleted digestion could benefit more from cooked beets.

About The Plant

Red beetroot originated from Beta Vulgaris, a native plant of Southern Europe. It is an easy-to-grow root which doesn't fall victim to many pests. This, and the fact that beetroot only takes about 55-65 days to be ready for harvest, explains the popularity of beets in tougher climates.

Part of the amaranth family, beets were domesticated in the ancient Middle East, and were grown by the ancient Romans, Greeks and Egyptians. Though they were initially cultivated for their leaves, rather than their roots.

The use of the vivid, red roots did not begin until the Roman era and the medicinal use of beets only gained popularity from the Middle Ages. They were specifically prized for helping digestive and blood conditions. The deep red hue also made beets popular for coloring wine at this time!

Today a wide, and beautifully colorful, variety of beets are available - from the well-known red, to golden yellow, to candy-stripe pink. Every variant is packed with nutrients and a good source of iron, fiber and folate. They also contain manganese, potassium and VitaminC.

Beets' red color is commonly used as a food dye, while white beets are the main source of table sugar!

Footnote: The information for this article was in part gathered from a 2022 study and survey of 19 students of Ayurveda who experimented with beets. During the study, students ate beets for 3 days and journaled the pharmacological effects. This study was sponsored by the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda, and specifically the Mastering Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition certification course.

Boosts Oxygen, Blood Flow, and Athletic Endurance

During digestion, nitrates in beets are converted to nitric oxide, which improves oxygen delivery and can increase endurance. As a 2017 study reported, "those who drank beet juice prior to exercise were able to exercise longer, showing increased cardiorespiratory endurance." (Source: Dom?nguez R, Cuenca E, Mat?-Mu?oz JL, et al. Effects of beetroot juice supplementation on cardiorespiratory endurance in athletes. A systematic review. Nutrients. 2017;9(1). doi:10.3390/nu9010043)

11 participants in our study reported having more energy after eating beets, while only 1 had less energy. "I noticed the beets make me feel more alert, like I have more blood running through me". Another participant noted, "They give me energy. They make me feel strong", and "I felt active and fit, the energy levels were higher".

A reason for this effect could be because nitric oxide improves blood flow to the muscles, brain and other organs by dilating blood vessels. This is a key action in improving endurance.

In fact, nitric oxide is one of the most crucial molecules for the health of our blood vessels. It reduces blood pressure, strengthens the internal lining of the heart and vessels (endothelial function) and acts as a blood thinning cholagogue.

Students felt this improvement in blood flow through their bodies, commenting there was "more blood running through me" and "spreading heat in my body". Others remarked, "I seem to have more blood in this menstrual period." Another said, "my blood feels nourished".

Beets & Improved Eyesight

As the liver is nourished and cleansed, and the quality of blood improves, the eyes benefit. Biocharacteristics medicine sees the eyes, blood and liver as being closely linked. Both highly vascularized, the liver and eyes are highly susceptible to blood changes. Sore, tired eyes are a common symptom of heat (Pitta) aggravation. In these cases, vitiated blood dilates the pupils and reduces the eyes' ability to focus.

One student noted, "my vision became clearer", and another reported, "my eyesight improved this week". This is a natural consequence of beets' blood cleansing, liver cleansing and anti-inflammatory nature. Our founder, John, notes that he clears the liver whenever he notices he is having a difficult time focusing.

The phytochemicals in beets support the health of the eye and nerve tissues. Beta-carotene helps calm an inflamed liver and is a precursor to Vitamin A, which further supports the eyes. Beet also contain an antioxidant called lutein. This acts to protect the eyes against cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Essential for Cleansing in February

Seasonally, beets are most useful in February, just as they come into season in many areas. February is a month of liver congestion as the body prepares for Spring by releasing winter fat stores into the blood. This can lead to a congested liver and thick, rich blood.

The cholagogue effect of beets helps to flush these excess oils and cleanses the blood. This is very helpful in late Winter when the blood has become stagnant due to cold winter. This is the reason beets are an essential ingredient of John's February cleanse routine.

Students echoed the cleansing effects of beets. 9 respondents reported less tongue coating after eating beets, versus 3 who saw more. Ayurveda uses tongue coating to assess the overall health of the GI and to look for presence of toxins (ama). The reduction in coating testifies to beets cleansing effect.

Nitrates -Good for you?

Some people believe nitrates are harmful and can cause cancer. Others argue that the risks are more associated with the specific nitrites in processed meats.

The research shows that diets rich in nitrites and nitrates can have positive health effects. These include a decreased risk of many diseases. They have also been shown to support cardiovascular health, such as lowering blood pressure, protecting the inner membranes of heart and vessels (endothelium). They can strengthen the heart muscle (myocardium). They can also slow the metabolic reactions linked to plaque forming inside blood vessels (atherogenesis) and other cardiovascular diseases.

The body can convert dietary nitrates, like those from beets, into nitric oxides. These oxides travel through the artery walls and send signals to the tiny muscle cells around the arteries. These signals tell the vessels to relax and dilate. This improves circulation and allows the blood pressure to drop.

Conclusion

Beets nourish and improve the quality of the blood. In fact, they are nourishing and satisfying in general. As well as this, beets cleanse the blood, liver and bowels. Beets ability to both nourish and cleanse makes them unique.

Beets can improve circulation, by relaxing the blood vessels and improve circulation. This can help reduce blood pressure and warm the body. The warmth, circulation and nourishing benefits of beets improves athletic endurance and make beets a useful aphrodisiac. Altogether, these qualities relax the body while improving alertness.