Which beets are healthier than raw or boiled: compare the composition and medicinal properties

Beets are a well-known and beloved vegetable. Ancient healers spoke about the benefits of this root vegetable. Still not knowing its chemical composition, people realized that the vegetable has healing properties, and they grew it as a medicinal plant.

Eating beets raw ensures that all nutrients are fully absorbed into the body. But a boiled root vegetable is much more often on our table. From the article, you will find out for which diseases boiled and raw beets are useful and whether there are any contraindications to its use.

The benefits and harms of beets

Beets are grown in garden beds and large plantations. Its beneficial properties have been proven not only by traditional medicine, but also by modern research.

Interesting! Beetroot became a cultivated vegetable in the 1st-2nd millennium BC. e. in the Mediterranean countries. Then this root vegetable was considered medicinal and must be eaten raw. He got to Kievan Rus only in the X century.

The root vegetable has many advantages:

• unpretentiousness when growing;
• pleasant taste and bright color;
• long-term storage;
• possibility prepare different ways.

Raw

When eaten raw, beets:

• has vasodilator, sedative, diuretic and anti-sclerotic properties;
• normalizes heart function, lowers blood pressure, strengthens the walls of blood vessels and improves blood circulation;
• helps with weight loss;
• fights hemorrhoids;
• useful for anemia;
• cleanses the liver.

Boiled

After cooking, this vegetable does not lose its beneficial properties:

• It is recommended for people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, since it restores the inflamed gastric mucosa, gently cleanses the intestines and liver, and treats constipation;
• removes harmful bacteria and toxins;
• normalizes metabolism, helps to get rid of excess fat, therefore it is considered a dietary product;
• useful for anemia, quickly replenishes blood loss, increases hemoglobin levels;
• rejuvenates the body due to the presence of antioxidants;
• stimulates the immune system.

Not everyone likes the taste of boiled beets, but many people eat it with pleasure as part of various dishes.

Which beets are healthier: raw or boiled

It is believed that natural products lose their usefulness after processing. Cooking, stewing, frying, salting destroy most of the nutrients. Beets are an exception.

Composition and properties of raw and boiled beets

The composition of raw and boiled is almost the same. Calorie content - from 40 to 45 kcal. Depending on the varieties she hesitates: the more Sahara, the higher the calorie content.

The chemical composition of beets is presented in the table:

The data from the table confirm that after heat treatment, the chemical composition of the beets changes little, and hence the properties. This is one of the few products that remains healthy after cooking.

Vitamins and trace elements of raw and boiled beets

The composition of vitamins and microelements is presented in the table.

The complete destruction of folic and ascorbic acids occurs if the vegetable is cooked incorrectly: the lid of the pan is open, the root crop is cut into pieces, the peel is damaged. The trace elements that make up it are preserved after heat treatment.

Interesting! Beets have a rich, vibrant color thanks to betaine. This organic substance was discovered by the German chemist Scheibler. In Latin, "beet" sounds like beta, hence the name - "betaine".

For 100 g of beets:

• iron - 1.4 mg;
• iodine - 7 mcg;
• cobalt - 2 μg;
• lithium - 60 mcg;
• manganese - 0.66 mg;
• copper - 140 mcg;
• molybdenum - 10 mcg;
• nickel - 14 mcg;
• rubidium - 453 mcg;
• selenium - 0.7 mcg;
• strontium - 8.4 μg;
• fluorine - 20 μg;
• chromium - 20 mcg;
• zinc - 0.425 mg;
• zirconium - 0.08 mcg.

The deficiency of these microelements leads to disruption of all body systems.

Application for diseases

Beets are unique in that after any heat treatment - boiling, stewing, baking - they become tastier and softer. It is used for treatment and prevention of many diseases.

Gastrointestinal tract

The crude product is used with caution. With excessive use of acid in beet juice disrupt the work of the digestive system.

Important! Freshly squeezed beet juice is drunk 2 hours before a meal.

Boiled root vegetable improves the functioning of the entire digestive system. Betaine restores liver cells. Dietary fiber and pectins help the body clear toxins from the intestines. The boiled product is useful for gastritis with normal and low acidity.

Diabetes

Raw beets contain a lot of sucrose, which is harmful for diabetics. Even with a diet, it disrupts the metabolism, which leads to complications. Lovers of this raw vegetable should consult with their physician before eating.

Boiled beets are allowed. Diabetics of types 1 and 2 use it, observing a dietary regimen. It has a positive effect on blood vessels and heart, regulates metabolism and hemoglobin level.

Cardiovascular

Raw beets are healthy due to their nitrite content. This group of compounds widens blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.

Boiled water also thins the blood, cleans blood vessels, improves heart function, normalizes blood circulation, and fights bad cholesterol.

Female

Boiled and raw beets help women cope with many problems:

• during menopause normalizes the cycle;
• helps to restore blood loss during menstruation;
• normalizes metabolism;
• with a lack of folic acid, it helps to cope with premenstrual syndrome.

During pregnancy, this product:

• helps to cope with depression;
• normalizes intestinal peristalsis and gently treats hemorrhoids;
• has a diuretic effect and fights edema;
• prevents anemia.

Overweight women include this product in the menu, as it has a low calorie content. Fiber promotes the elimination of harmful substances. The process of losing weight is easier.

Male

Vitamins B3, B5, E and C nourish the brain and stimulate the pituitary gland, which is responsible for a man's sex drive. Vitamins A, B, E, zinc and selenium increase male strength. The beta-carotene contained in beets prevents the formation of tumors such as prostate adenoma.

The root vegetable rejuvenates the body and provides a high level of potency for many years.

For children

Raw beets are contraindicated in infants. The high content of fruit acids irritates delicate mucous membranes. There is a high risk of an allergic reaction.

The boiled vegetable gently and painlessly cleanses the intestines, it is necessary for anemia and iodine deficiency. During periods of vitamin deficiency, boiled beets replenish the vitamin deficiency in the child's body.

How to eat raw and boiled beets

The main rule when using any product is compliance with the norm. Beet juice is drunk no more than 1 tbsp.per day with interruptions. It contains acids that irritate the mucous membranes of the digestive system. Contraindicated in children under one year old.

Doctors advise drinking beet juice with the addition of other vegetables and fruits: carrots, pumpkin, apples. After cooking, the juice is insisted in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.

Important! The bright color of the vegetable warns of the risk of an allergic reaction.

The usual rate of consumption of boiled beets is 200-250 g per day for adults, for children - half as much.

As a vegetable feed, it is given to children aged 6-8 months, adding to other vegetables. Necessarily during the morning reception in order to trace the reaction of the child's body. Enough 1-2 tsp. After a year, dishes with beets are introduced into the children's diet: borscht, mashed potatoes, side dishes, salads.

When cooking boiled vegetables, follow these rules:

• cook in the peel and whole;
• in a little water;
• with a closed lid;
• do not overcook.

The best processing method is baking. With it, a maximum of useful substances is preserved.

Who is contraindicated

Raw beets are contraindicated for:

• gastritis with high acidity;
• tendency to allergies;
• urolithiasis;
• diabetes mellitus;
• kidney failure;
• reduced pressure.

A boiled root vegetable should not be used when:

• weak intestines;
• osteoporosis;
• tendency to allergies;
• pancreatitis in acute form.

Conclusion

It is better to eat boiled or raw beets - everyone decides individually. With proper heat treatment, the vegetable does not lose its beneficial properties, so boiled is not inferior to raw. The healing properties of the root crop are manifested with moderate use.