It’s not always easy to tell which foods are safe to eat, especially if you’re living with a chronic illness. Beets are generally regarded as being healthy but some people may have questions about including them in their diets. According to researchers, however, there are some key benefits to eating beets and even people with long-term illnesses such as diabetes should consider them.
The Benefits Of Adding Beets To Your Diet
Beets are a great source of antioxidants, vitamins, potassium, fiber, and a range of other nutrients that can be beneficial to those who eat them regularly. Here are a few of them.
1. Regulation Of Glucose And Insulin
Based on a recent study, it was shown that the phytochemicals in beets can be helpful for regulating glucose and insulin in the body. It appears to be most effective if you have beets before or during the meal. The result is lower levels of glucose after eating.
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2. Lower Risk Of Chronic Illness
This benefit is associated with the high levels of antioxidants that beets have. Generally, antioxidants have been shown to help the body fight off chronic illnesses that can be caused by inflammation.
A few of these diseases are heart disease and degenerative disorders. These antioxidants also help to reduce cell damage.
3. Reduced Likelihood Of Complications From Diabetes
If you’ve been wondering if beets are good for diabetics, this point will help. People with diabetes can develop other complications that affect their hearts, kidneys, and eyes. The antioxidants in beets may help to keep these issues from happening.
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4. Lower Blood Pressure
Many people have an issue with high blood pressure. In some cases, diabetes and hypertension go hand in hand. There’s more work to be done but studies suggest that the nitrates found in beets can lower blood pressure in certain diabetics.
5. Lower Chance Of Nerve Damage
Another issue that can plague diabetics is nerve damage. This damage occurs because of the high glucose levels, fats, and triglycerides that are typically associated with the illness.
According to recent studies, however, the alpha-lipoic acid found in beets can help to reduce your chance of having
nerve damage. While researchers are still not completely sure how it happens, it’s possible that it has something to do with the nutrient’s antioxidant properties.
6. Improved Physical Performance
Since exercise is an important part of being healthy, it’s good to know that beets can help you to be more efficient when working out. Research suggests that the nutrients in beets improve the way muscles take up and handle oxygen. As a result, your tolerance and durability improve.
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The Best Ways To Eat Beets
It’s recommended that beets are consumed raw if you can manage it. That’s because some of the nutrients in beets are adversely affected by cooking.
As such, salads and juices are a great way to get the nutrients you need.
The next best thing is to steam or roast the beets. By doing that, you can add some flavor without significantly affecting the nutritive value. If you must cook the beets more thoroughly, consider adding them to pasta dishes as well.
Given how nutritious beets are, it’s not surprising that health experts recommend including them in your regular diet. Still, the question remains, are beets good for diabetics? Unless your doctor says otherwise, the answer is yes. They may even help you to manage your illness effectively.
Of course, changing your diet is only meant to supplement your doctor’s prescribed medical regimen so you should never stop taking your medications without consulting them.
