{"id":57128,"date":"2023-02-14T09:30:08","date_gmt":"2023-02-14T14:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=57128"},"modified":"2025-12-23T11:31:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T16:31:11","slug":"beets-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/beets-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"8 health benefits of beets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beets may not be the first vegetable on your favorite foods list\u2014many people have less-than-pleasant childhood memories of being forced to eat the canned version at dinner and would rather not revisit those memories as adults.<\/span><\/p>\n

But beets are really <\/span>really <\/span><\/i>good for your overall health and wellness. The part of the beet you typically eat, i.e., the bulbous part under the stem, is technically the \u201ctaproot\u201d or \u201cbeetroot,\u201d though most of us just call it a beet. Whatever you know it as\u2014and however you prepare it, from sliced raw to juiced to pickled to roasted\u2014the beet is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with vitamin antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, heart-healthy nitrates, and a few other unexpected benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are 8 reasons why you should work beets into your meals\u2014and how to make them tastier than you remember.<\/span><\/p>\n

8 health benefits of beets<\/span><\/h2>\n

Whether bright red, deep purple, or yellow-gold, this root vegetable is <\/span>undeniably colorful<\/span>. Those pigments mean beets are full of vitamins and minerals. But to think that beet benefits stop there is an understatement; they can do a whole lot more than simply round out your nutrient intake. Beets are a true superfood\u2014here\u2019s why.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Lower blood pressure<\/span><\/h3>\n

Beets are high in plant-based nitrates, magnesium, and potassium, which have vasodilating properties that increase blood flow by relaxing vessels, according to <\/span>Inna Melamed<\/span><\/a>, Pharm.D., functional medicine practitioner and author of <\/span>Digestive Reset<\/span><\/i>. When you eat beets regularly, says Dr. Melamed, they can decrease high blood pressure (sometimes dramatically, so be careful if you have <\/span>low blood pressure<\/span><\/a>!). If you have high blood pressure, continue to take your blood pressure medication. Consider taking your blood pressure daily. If your blood pressure lowers less than 90\/60 or you feel weak or fatigued, see your provider for advice.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, a <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> found beetroot juice to be an accessible, affordable, and effective treatment for controlling hypertension across several different populations. <\/span>Controlling your blood pressure<\/span><\/a> can help to decrease your risk of heart disease and improve heart health.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Improve digestion<\/span><\/h3>\n

One cup of beets provides almost four grams of fiber, or 15% of your daily value (DV). Meaning, they help regulate your bowel movements, including relieving symptoms of constipation. Plus all that fiber <\/span>feeds your gut microbiome<\/span><\/a>, which some <\/span>research<\/span><\/a> shows may lead to better blood sugar and metabolism regulation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Detox your liver\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are a few compounds in beets that can improve liver function, but the biggest one is betalain, a phytonutrient found naturally in red beets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Betalains have been linked to liver function through studies examining their effect on <\/span>nonalcoholic fatty liver disease<\/span><\/a>; in one small human study, <\/span>supplementation with beetroot powder<\/span><\/a> reduced liver enzymes, lipids, and overall liver size, while <\/span>another study in rodents<\/span><\/a> found a decrease in liver stress, fat, and inflammation after treatment with beetroot powder.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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