Beet Root

Food Value of Beet Root

This vegetable is a good tonic food for health. It contains carbohydrates, mainly in the form of sugar, and it has a little protein and fat. Beet is taken in a variety of ways. They are widely used in salads and in the preparation of pickles and chutney. They are also baked like potatoes or boiled, steamed or cooked. They should be thoroughly washed before boiling and the skin should be removed before use. The leaves, like all green vegetables, should be cooked with a small amount of water and for only a short time. The fresher the beets, the better the flavor and the Quicker they cook. The beet juice is considered as one of the best vegetable juice. It is a rich source of natural sugar. It contains sodium, potassium, phosphorus. Calcium, sulphur. Chlorine, iodine, iron, copper, vitamin B1, B2. Niacin. B6. This juice is rich in easily digestible carbohydrates, but the calorie content is low. The protein factors or amino acids are good in both quality and quantity.

Beet Root

Food Value	Minerals and Vitamins
Moisture - 87.7%	Calcium - 18 mg
Protein - 1.7%	Phosphorus - 55 mg
Fat - 0.1%	Iron - 1.0 mg
Fiber - 0.7%	Vitamin C - 10 mg
Minerals - 0.8%	Good amount of vitamin A & B
Carbohydrates - 8.8%	Small amount of Vitamin B Complex
* Values per 100 gm's edible portion	Calorific Value - 43

Natural Benefits and Curative Properties of Beet Root

Beets are of great therapeutic value. They have properties to clean the kidneys and gall bladder. Being rich in alkaline elements, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron. They are useful in combating acidosis and aid the natural processes of elimination.

• Anemia :- Red beet juice is associated with human blood and blood forming qualities. Due to its higher content of iron, it regenerates and reactivates the red blood cells, supplies fresh oxygen to the body and helps the normal function. Of vesicular breathing i.e. normal breath sound. It is thus extremely useful in the treatment of anemia. According to Dr. Fritz Keitel of Germany, "The juice of the red beet strengthens the body's powers of resistance and has proved to be an excellent remedy for anemia. Especially for children and teenagers where other blood forming remedies have failed.
• Digestive Disorders: - Beet juice is beneficial in the treatment of jaundice. hepatitis, nausea and vomiting due to biliousness, diarrhea and dysentery Adding a teaspoonful of lime juice to this juice increases its medicinal value and can be given as a liquid food in these conditions. Fresh beet juice mixed with a tablespoonful of honey taken every morning before breakfast helps the healing of gastric ulcer. Leaves of beet root. Eaten as green-leafy vegetable and its juice, mixed with lime juice. Are also valuable in jaundice and gastric ulcer. The juice should be taken once daily.
• Constipation and Piles: - The cellulose content of the beet acts as a bulk residue. Increases peristalsis -i.e. wavelike movement and eases the passage of stool. Its regular use thus prevents habitual constipation. A juice of the beet root is highly valuable in chronic constipation and hemorrhoids. I.e. piles. It may be given in doses 01 table spoon to one tumblerful at bed time.
• Circulatory Disorders: - The beet juice is an excellent solvent for inorganic calcium deposits. It is, therefore, valuable in the treatment of hypertension. Arteriosclerosis. heart trouble and varicose veins
• Kidney and Gall Bladder Disorders: - The beet juice. In combination with the juice of carrot and cucumber, is one of the finest cleansing materials for kidneys and gall bladder. It is highly beneficial in all disorders relating to these two organs.
• Skin Disorders: - The water in which beet roots and tops have been boiled is an excellent application for boils. Skin inflammation and out breaks of pimples and pustules. The white beet is better for this purpose. For an irritable skin the body should be sponged down occasionally with a mixture of three parts of beet water to one part of white vinegar. This mixture is also useful as a skin wash in cases of measles and eruptive fevers.
• Dandruff :- The juice of beets mixed with little vinegar can be used externally to cleanse scurf or dandruff from the head. For dandruff, the beet water should also be massaged into the scalp with the ginger tip every night.