Beet Yourself Up

 

Botanically known as Beta vulgaris, the beet evolved from their wild ancestor known as sea beet, which is native to the coast of Europe, Northern Africa, and Southern Asia. The root was carrot shaped and during early times the beet greens were eaten rather than the roots.

 

The ancient Romans were mostly interested in beets for medicine, however they are believed to be one of the first civilizations to cultivate beetroot for food.

The Romans used beetroot in curative broths as a treatment for fever, constipation, and other ailments. They also considered beetroot juice as an aphrodisiac. It wasn’t until the sixteenth century the rounded root shape we’re familiar with today was developed, and became popular in Central and Eastern Europe a couple of hundred years later. Over the millennia, beetroot has been used to treat a variety of conditions, especially illnesses related to digestion and the blood. Today the beetroot is still championed as a universal cure-all.

Beets contain powerful nutrients that can help protect against heart disease, birth defects, and certain cancers such as colon cancer. Beets are considered a natural cleanser helping to remove toxins from the body and nourish the bloodstream, and not only do beets cleanse the liver and purify the blood, they also aid in digestion and stimulate lymphatic activity.

Raw beetroots contain folate, niacin, biotin, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C. They’re low in fat and high in complex carbohydrates, providing our body with fuel and fibre. During pregnancy, folate is important for normal fetal development and folate also aids in the formation of red blood cells. Potassium, along with sodium, helps to regulate the water balance and acid-alkaline balance in the blood and tissues. The pigment batacyanin, which gives beets their rich purple-crimson colour, is a powerful cancer-fighting agent and its effectiveness against colon cancer in particular has been demonstrated in several studies. Iron improves energy, prevents anemia and provides each cell with oxygen to function better, and the iron in beet juice is noted for being more easily assimilated than other forms of iron supplements.

Beets may also help to lower levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) while raising levels of beneficial cholesterol (HDL) which can improve cardiovascular health. Beetroots are also known to have the ability to counter damaging effects on the liver. Over the last four centuries beetroot has been used for the treatment of hepatitis and has been thought to be beneficial for the detoxification of the liver. Theories suggest the high concentrations of betaine found in beets help support and detoxify the liver by limiting fat deposits. Betaine is also known to lessen inflammation and also play a role in reducing homocysteine of which high levels of homocysteine are associated with cardiovascular disease. Recent studies point to betaine as contributing to the prevention of coronary and cerebral artery diseases.

According to medical anthropologist, John Heinerman, in his book entitled Encyclopedia of Healing Juices he states beets (and beet juices) are a blood-building herb that detoxifies blood and renews it with minerals and natural sugars. Other notable sources also speak highly of beets and their juices. Dr. H.C.A. Vogel, in The Nature Doctor, states that beet juice contains betaine, which stimulates the function of liver cells and protects the liver and bile ducts. Norman Walker, D.Sc., in Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Juices, claims that beets build red corpuscles and add tone to blood.

We know that fresh fruits and vegetables provide us with a broad spectrum of essential nutrients and fibre necessary for proper digestion, assimilation, and whole body health. They provide phytochemicals, enzymes and antioxidants, and consuming them the way nature intended in their raw form is usually the best. However, some vegetables do need to be cooked otherwise they would be very hard to eat. Because cooking destroys valuable enzymes, which are essential for the thousands of chemical reactions that occur throughout the body, juicing provides a means to ensure we’re getting the maximum amount of nutrients available.

 

AIM RediBeets® is available in a ready to mix powder and provides a convenient way to enjoy the benefits beetroot has to offer without all the extra work and mess.

 

The half pound of beets used to make a teaspoon of RediBeets is residue-free. When the beets are processed to separate the juice and its valuable nutrients from the fiber, the beets are not subjected to high temperatures that may damage their nutrients. AIM uses only the root of red beets and it takes approximately 25 pounds of beets to make one pound of RediBeets powder.

Considering all the benefits beets have to offer, it makes good sense to include them in our dietary routine to help maintain whole body health and prevent illness. An overall healthy diet will not only provide our body with the energy and nutrition it needs to function properly, but also offers several other health benefits as well. Go ahead and beet yourself up. Your body will love you for it.

For additional information about AIM RediBeets® please visit our
AIM Store Website where you can learn more, download datasheets watch videos, and make your purchase. As with any supplement it is always recommended to read the literature thoroughly to find out if this product is right for you, and consult your health care practitioner if you have any medical conditions or concerns.

Note: While there is no processed sugar in RediBeets it is made up of about 70 percent natural sugars. These natural sugars are what give RediBeets its sweet taste. If you are diabetic or concerned about blood glucose levels, consult your health care practitioner before using AIM RediBeets®.

Footnote: I take my RediBeets mixed in water as my breakfast juice. I mix one teaspoon (or more) of RediBeets with cool or cold water and stir or blend. I also enjoy a fresh glass of RediBeets mixed with ice-cold water and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice in the afternoon. Very refreshing especially on a warm day!