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All vegetables are beneficial for the human body, but according to evidence there is one that wins points, especially when it comes to the antioxidants it contains.
The word “inflammation” does not evoke positive associations in anyone. From a point of view rightly so, since it generally indicates that there is a problem in our body. But if you see the mechanism that mobilizes it, you will understand that it can also work in your favor.
Inflammation is a response mechanism of our immune system that helps our body identify and fight enemies that attack it. This particular process heals the tissues and helps us recover. This kind of inflammation is called acute and once it has finished its work, it stops.
There is, however, another type of inflammation: chronic , which is often considered the root cause of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and autoimmune disorders.
One way to strengthen our body in order to fight chronic inflammation is through a diet rich in a variety of vegetables , which offer us valuable antioxidant substances . However, according to dietitian-nutritionist Lainey Younkin , there is one vegetable that beats them all: the beetroot .
The most valuable ingredient is in the color
Betalains are vegetable pigments that give beets their striking color. As stated in a review published in the journal Human Nutrition & Metabolism , betalains have an anti-inflammatory effect, as they reduce several markers of inflammation , limit the production of free radicals and protect the body from xenobiotics (chemical compounds that are not produced by our body, but we ingest them through the environment).
Beets are rich in manganese
The truth is, we don’t often hear about this chemical element, which is abundant in beets. But manganese plays an important role in the production and activation of one of the most important antioxidants in our body, called hydrogen peroxide dismutase.
The well-known vitamin C
One cup of beets (about 140 g.) contains about 7 mg of vitamin C , or 8% of the recommended daily intake . Although this quantity is smaller than the quantity they contain e.g. citrus fruits, however it is good to keep in mind that this quantity is added to the pool of nutrients that this vegetable already contains.
How to enjoy beets
If we want to take advantage of the nutritional benefits of beets to the maximum extent possible, we need to pay attention to the way we consume them. Many of the nutrients are found in abundance in their skin, but we should wash them very well , using a vegetable brush. We can, therefore, enjoy them raw with the peel. If, again, we prefer them cooked, it is better to prepare them steamed. Get ideas from OW’s recipes with beets .
