Some diseases require people to constantly monitor their diet since their well-being depends on medications and proper nutrition and lifestyle. And diabetic people are not an exception. So are beets good for diabetics?
Although beets taste sweet, they can prevent the high risk of diabetics having high blood pressure. Further, they also prevent the formation of kidney stones which many diabetics suffer from, and also strengthen your eyesight. So Beets have a lot to offer to Diabetic people.
In this guide, we will talk about beets in detail, their health benefits, risks, and how it is good for people with diabetes. Therefore, stay tuned as we surf through!
11 Reasons Why Beets Are Good For Diabetics
Yes. Beets are essential vegetables for people with diabetes. They are often called a superfood. This vegetable has been used for many years now to treat various conditions, from fever to constipation.
Beets are rich in potassium, folates, and many more nutrients that are good for overall health. However, studies show that these beets may be beneficial for diabetics.
Although they have a sweet flavor, beets are safe for diabetics. Beets even have beneficial values for diabetics, as noted below.
1. Safe for blood sugar
Any food that contains sugar has a glycemic index. The lower the glycemic index, the better for diabetics. This is because a low glycemic index will reduce the risk of high blood sugar levels. Do all sweet-tasting foods have a high glycemic index?
The answer is no. We know that beets taste sweet. However, the glycemic index of beets is considered average. This means that consuming beets will not immediately raise your blood sugar levels.
2. Controls blood pressure
Most diabetic patients also have hypertension problems. And, of course, this worsens the patient’s health. On the other hand, beets are known to lower blood pressure.
Research has shown that drinking beetroot juice can significantly lower blood pressure. Thus, this is another benefit of beets for diabetes.
3. Prevents the formation of kidney stones
Diabetics often have a problem with kidney complications. Beets contain substances that can inhibit the formation of kidney stones.
4. Increases blood circulation
Dietary fiber and trace elements in beets allow our bodies to improve blood circulation. Improved circulation can help deliver glucose to tissue faster.
Hence, it allows the body to produce less insulin to metabolize food and regulate blood sugar levels. In addition to the benefits of improved blood circulation for regulating blood sugar levels, it is also beneficial for the brain.
5. High potassium levels
Based on research, low potassium levels are attributed to a high risk of diabetes. Based on the USDA beet nutrient data, beets are high in potassium. Therefore, beets will be beneficial for people with diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes.
6. Provides fiber
As you know, dietary fiber is very beneficial for our health. The high fiber content in beets also proves the health benefits of sugar. High-fiber foods are usually lower in calories. In addition, fiber can signal our body’s high insulin, thus suppressing it from producing glucose in the liver.
7. Helps stay full for a long time
In addition, by controlling glucose production in the liver, the dietary fiber in beets can also make us feel fuller longer after consuming them. This will lessen our food cravings.
As we know, diabetics must tightly control their carbohydrate intake since it can raise blood sugar levels.
8. Source of magnesium
Based on research, magnesium can do so many things for us. It can support muscles, keep the nervous system working, regulate blood pressure, and prevent heart attack. In addition, it can regulate blood sugar levels.
9. Source of selenium
Selenium is a trace mineral that acts as an antioxidant. It helps a lot to fight many diseases. Research shows that high selenium levels have been effective to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
The selenium-related risk of diabetes is reduced by about 25%. As mentioned above, beets contain relatively significant amounts of selenium as a micronutrient.
10. Strengthens the nervous system
Diabetes can sometimes cause nerve damage. In this case, beets can provide an antioxidant that helps the diabetic reduce nerve damage. The symptoms of nerve damage are usually in the form of pain and numbness in the arms and legs.
11. Improves endurance during exercise
Beets are popular to contain high levels of sugar. Although some argue that the natural sugar in beets is safe for diabetics, they should still use it with caution.
It is best to consume steamed or lightly roasted beets instead of raw beets. The cooking process can increase the sugar in the beets, which can worsen blood sugar levels.
Not only the flesh but also the layer under the skin of the beets is beneficial for health. It is advisable to eat it while still fresh. You can make salad from the beets or simply turn them into juice.
Drinking beet juice twice a week will keep the patient healthy. Moreover, it helps the patient to recover from fatigue. The dietitian also suggests combining beet juice with another vegetable to add nutritional value.
However, it is best for a diabetic to consult a doctor before taking beets regularly. The quantity a diabetic needs will depend on blood sugar levels and overall health.
Regular exercise is very important, especially for diabetic patients. However, some patients are reluctant to exercise regularly due to fatigue and pain after exercise. Using beets will enhance your endurance while exercising.
In addition, beet juice can improve muscle function to absorb more oxygen during a workout session and add endurance. Beet juice will also ease fatigue after a workout session. In short, beets are good for your health.
What Are Beets?
Beets are edible vegetables with dark red skin and white flesh. Beets have long been a superfood due to their nutritional value. In addition to providing you with beneficial nutrients, it also has medicinal value for certain ailments such as fever, digestive problems, and skin problems.
You can purchase beets at any time and can stay for a long term without losing their nutrients. Beets are not a forbidden food, but there are some nuances that come with using this vegetable. It turns out that this vegetable can even be useful to treat type 2 diabetes.
Due to the low glycemic properties, diabetic people may include beets in their diet, especially those with digestive problems. The chemical composition of the vegetable contains betaine substances that improve protein absorption, lower blood pressure, regulate fat metabolism, prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, and many more.
It is useful for diabetics to use beets because they positively affect blood vessels and the heart, regulate the level of hemoglobin, and relieve constipation due to their high fiber content.
Related article: Things to Know About Diabetes
What Are the Health Benefits of the Beets?
Beets are a universal product. It is a product that can be used to make vegetable salads, vinaigrette, and many more. Beets are boiled, stewed, stuffed, pickled, made into jelly, and even made into sweet dishes. There are countless recipes for this vegetable.
Beets contain many nutrients that have beneficial effects on human health. It is widely available and you can buy it at any time. Therefore, it is not a problem to include beets in the diet at any time of the year.
Unfortunately, many people underestimate the health benefits of this red vegetable. It’s a pity. Therefore, we will get into detail about its health benefits.
1) Beets are Good for a Healthy Heart
Everyone knows that when we peel and chop beets, it stains the skin of our hands a blood-red color. It is due to its pigment known as betaine. Its presence is a great advantage. By the way, these vegetables are named from their betaine pigment.
Betaine is an antioxidant that protects the body from free radicals. It is necessary for the normal functioning of many biochemical processes. Betaine preserves the liver, helps in fat metabolism, affects blood lipids, and many more. In the long run, this means less risk of cardiovascular disease.
The best thing about this product is it retains its properties when boiled. Beetroot contains compounds that are converted into nitric oxide in our bodies. This, in turn, helps to dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure.
Eating beets can lower your risk of heart attacks, heart failure, and stroke. Therefore, nutritionists recommend beets for the prevention of hypertension and atherosclerosis.
Related article: ARTERIS PLUS Review: How Does It Work?
2) Beets are Helpful in Preventing Fatigue
Beets have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vascular properties, which can improve mental and cognitive function. This root vegetable is also a source of potassium, which helps in the proper functioning of nerves and muscles.
We must remember that if potassium levels get too low, fatigue, weakness, muscle cramps, and even life-threatening heart rhythm disturbances occur.
3) Helps in Normal Functioning of the Bowel
Beets have high fiber. Due to its high content of dietary fiber, beets positively affect the functioning of the digestive system, give a feeling of satiety, help strengthen intestinal motility, and have a positive effect on bacterial flora. In addition, pectins, classified as dietary fiber, are a natural sorbent for heavy metals such as lead.
4) It is a Good Vegetable when Pregnant
Beets contain folic acid, which is essential for pregnant women. It should be in sufficient quantity in their diet because it helps prevent fetal neural tube defects and reduces the risk of preterm birth.
5) Treats Runny Nose and Sore Throat
The flavonoids found in beets are antibacterial. Therefore, the juice of this root vegetable is instilled into the nose when a person has a runny nose. Besides, it can also treat sore throats, laryngitis, and pharyngitis by just gargling.
What are the Risks?
Everyone who seeks to strengthen or restore health should know well the benefits and harms of beets. With all the wealth and value of its content, sometimes beetroot still has some risks.
Despite their numerous benefits, beets can also harm the human body. Since it contains a lot of sugar, diabetics should use it with caution. It is also important for people predisposed to osteoporosis to eat small amounts of beets because they interfere with calcium absorption. Here are some of the risks of beets;
1. Beets can harm people with kidney/bladder problems
The root vegetable can harm people with kidney and bladder problems. Substances in beets that contribute to the formation of oxalic acid compounds are dangerous for urolithiasis.
2. They can increase intestinal disorders.
It should also be borne in mind that the root vegetable will only exacerbate the symptoms in case of intestinal disorders.
3. Beets can irritate the stomach in case of acute diseases
It is not recommended to eat root vegetables and drink beet juice when you have acute digestive system diseases. Some substances can irritate the stomach lining and coarse fiber in the intestines.
There is harm to beets in the presence of kidney stones because they can cause painful and dangerous movement of these solid formations.
4. It can cause issues when having low blood pressure
People with low blood pressure are not advised to constantly consume this vegetable. It can cause an uncontrolled decrease in pressure, which is no less dangerous than a sharp increase.
With a high calcium content in beets, it is still not recommended in large quantities for the elderly. Especially women who have more osteoporosis than men.
You might be interested in Ceracare below
Verdict
Beets are undoubtedly one of the healthiest vegetables and, perhaps, the only one that does not lose their quality during cooking. Despite the widespread belief that diabetics cannot eat beets, it is not entirely true.
It turns out that if you are a diabetic, eating this vegetable will be helpful. Its benefits range from controlling blood pressure to increasing blood circulation and strengthening the nervous system. Therefore, it goes without saying that beets are important food for our health and, more importantly, for diabetics.