by Jennifer Kirkman

Created on: August 02, 2009

The nutritional benefits of beetroot number many! My article here will point out this fact, and how beetroot in a one cup serving, helps the body in so many ways.

Beetroot first of all, is a root vegetable that contains folate. Folic acid is a B vitamin that we need daily in order to keep on producing great healthy cells. It is also very essential that women who are expecting get their folic acid in order to prevent several types of birth defects. In fact, it is best of all in folate than any other nutrient.

Next, beetroot is also a good source for getting your manganese. Manganese is what helps your body to process key nutrients such as biotin, which plays a role in lowering blood sugar levels. Thiamin is also processed by your manganese source.

Dietary fiber is provided with beetroot, which contains at least 3 grams per serving. Fiber is needed in the body for good intestinal health and roughage material.

Potassium, one of the main electrolyte sources in our body which keeps us alive is given through a serving of beets or beetroot. You will receive about 517 milligrams or thereabouts in a serving. So this is a very good source for your daily potassium levels.

Tryptophan is an essential part of our amino acids which our body needs in order to stay well. A serving of beets will provide us with 10 percent of our daily allowance needed for this acid.

If you have iron-deficiency anemia problems, beets are another small source for receiving some daily iron. Eating one cup of this vegetable daily will give a person a little over one percent of what is needed daily. True, this is not the very highest source of iron, but it can add to a diet for anemia and help the blood hemoglobin.

Phosphorous is part of beetroot, giving a person about 64 milligrams per serving. Phosphorous is essential just as calcium is for building up our bone health especially as a person ages.

Magnesium is part of beetroot, containing around 39 milligrams in your cup serving size. Magnesium is an important component of nerve functions, and is also prevention for heart disease and hypertension. And another part of magnesium's function is to build up the bones along with calcium that is stored.

And last of all, Vitamin C is part of beetroot as well. Vitamin C helps the immune system in fighting colds and flus,free radicals that we don't want in our bodies, and also stimulates the work of collagen, so needed for optimal bone health.

So to sum it all up, adding beetroot to your diet on a regular weekly basis, will do all of the above great things for the body and help you achieve optimal health!

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