{"id":10658,"date":"2024-05-04T16:00:11","date_gmt":"2024-05-04T13:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ch.jfdi.cc\/?p=10658"},"modified":"2024-05-04T16:00:11","modified_gmt":"2024-05-04T13:00:11","slug":"no-beetroot-isn-t-vegetable-viagra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ch.jfdi.cc\/?p=10658","title":{"rendered":"No, beetroot isn, \u2019t vegetable Viagra"},"content":{"rendered":"

But Lauren Ball and Emily Burch\u00a0outline what else it can do<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Beetroot has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Supply issues in recent months have seen a shortage of tinned beetroot on Australian supermarket shelves. At one point, a tin was reportedly selling on eBay for more than A$65.
\nBut as supplies increase, we turn our attention to beetroot\u2019s apparent health benefits.
\nIs beetroot really vegetable Viagra, as UK TV doctor Michael Mosley suggests? What about beetroot\u2019s other apparent health benefits \u2013 from reducing your blood pressure to improving your daily workout? Here\u2019s what the science says.
\nBeetroot \u2013 alongside foods such as berries, nuts and leafy greens \u2013 is a \u2018superfood\u2019. It contains above-average levels per gram of certain vitamins and minerals. Beetroot is particularly rich in vitamin B and C, minerals, fibre and antioxidants.
\nMost cooking methods don\u2019t significantly alter its antioxidant levels. Pressure cooking does, however, lower levels of carotenoid (a type of antioxidant) compared to raw beetroot.
\nProcessing into capsules, powders, chips or juice may affect beetroot\u2019s ability to act as an antioxidant. However, this can vary between products, including between different brands of beetroot juice.
\nThe Romans are said to have used beetroot and its juice as an aphrodisiac.
\nBut there\u2019s limited scientific evidence to say beetroot improves your sex life. This does not mean it doesn\u2019t. Rather, the vast number of scientific studies looking at the effect of beetroot have not measured libido or other aspects of sexual health.
\n\"recipes2\"When we eat beetroot, chemical reactions involving bacteria and enzymes transform the nitrate in beetroot into nitrite, then to nitric oxide. Nitric oxide helps dilate (widen) blood vessels, potentially improving circulation.
\nThe richest sources of dietary nitric oxide that have been tested in clinical studies are beetroot, rocket and spinach.
\nNitric oxide is also thought to support testosterone in its role in controlling blood flow before and during sex in men.
\nBeetroot\u2019s ability to improve blood flow can benefit the circulatory system of the heart and blood vessels. This may positively impact sexual function, theoretically in men and women.
\nTherefore, it is reasonable to suggest there could be a modest link between beetroot and preparedness for sex, but don\u2019t expect it to transform your sex life.
\nBeetroot has received increasing attention over recent years due to its antioxidant and anti-tumour effect in humans.
\nClinical trials have not verified all beetroot\u2019s active ingredients and their effects. However, beetroot may be a potentially helpful treatment for various health issues related to oxidative stress and inflammation, such as cancer and diabetes. The idea is that you can take beetroot supplements or eat extra beetroot alongside your regular medicines (rather than replace them).
\nThere is evidence beetroot juice can help lower systolic blood pressure (the first number in your blood pressure reading) by 2.73-4.81 mmHg (millimetres of mercury, the standard unit of measuring blood pressure) in people with high blood pressure. Some researchers say this reduction is comparable to the effects seen with certain medications and dietary interventions.
\nOther research finds even people without high blood pressure (but at risk of it) could benefit.
\nBeetroot may also improve athletic performance. Some studies show small benefits for endurance athletes (who run, swim or cycle long distances). These studies looked at various forms of the food, such as beetroot juice as well as beetroot-based supplements.
\nThere is scientific evidence to support positive impacts of consuming beetroot in whole, juice and supplement forms. So even if you can\u2019t get hold of tinned beetroot, there are plenty of other ways you can get more beetroot into your diet. You can try:
\nraw beetroot<\/strong> \u2013 grate raw beetroot and add it to salads or coleslaw, or slice beetroot to use as a crunchy topping for sandwiches or wraps
\ncooked beetroot<\/strong> \u2013 roast beetroot with olive oil, salt and pepper for a flavour packed side dish. Alternatively, steam beetroot and serve it as a standalone dish or mixed into other dishes
\nbeetroot juice<\/strong> \u2013 make fresh beetroot juice using a juicer. You can combine it with other fruits and vegetables for added flavour. You can also blend raw or cooked beetroot with water and strain to make a juice
\nsmoothies<\/strong> \u2013 add beetroot to your favourite smoothie. It pairs well with fruits such as berries, apples and oranges
\nsoups<\/strong> \u2013 use beetroot in soups for both flavour and colour. Borscht is a classic beetroot soup, but you can also experiment with other recipes
\npickled beetroot<\/strong> \u2013 make pickled beetroot at home, or buy it from the supermarket. This can be a tasty addition to salads or sandwiches
\nbeetroot hummus<\/strong> \u2013 blend cooked beetroot into your homemade hummus for a vibrant and nutritious dip.
\ngrilled beetroot<\/strong> \u2013 slice beetroot and grill it for a smoky flavour
\nbeetroot chips<\/strong> \u2013 slice raw beetroot thinly, toss the slices with olive oil and your favourite seasonings, then bake or dehydrate them to make crispy beetroot chips
\ncakes and baked goods<\/strong> \u2013 add grated beetroot to muffins, cakes, or brownies for a moist and colourful twist.
\nCompared to the large number of studies on the beneficial effects of beetroot, there is very little evidence of negative side effects.
\nIf you eat large amounts of beetroot, your urine may turn red or purple (called beeturia). But this is generally harmless.
\nThere have been reports in some countries of beetroot-based dietary supplements contaminated with harmful substances, yet we have not seen this reported in Australia.
\nBeetroot may give some modest boost to sex for men and women, likely by helping your circulation. But it\u2019s unlikely to transform your sex life or act as vegetable Viagra. We know there are many contributing factors to sexual wellbeing. Diet is only one.
\nLauren Ball is Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland and Emily Burch\u00a0is Lecturer, Southern Cross University. This article is republished from The\u00a0Conversation under a Creative Commons licence<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fact: Beetroot may give some modest boost to sex for men and women, likely by helping circulation, but it’s unlikely to transform your sex life or act as vegetable Viagra.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10659,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[5936,2108,328,6246,8889,8887,6497,695,2460,3,5170,594,1610,4382,250,3330,210,2766,5113,7905,1823,8819,2796,7074,5003,4474,3331,8888,5076,8281,3138,3775,7320,7654,6074,4054,3121,5093,1513,7876,1358,151,4861,494,7850,962,6305,1100],"class_list":["post-10658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other","tag-article","tag-athletes","tag-australia","tag-bacteria","tag-beetroot-consumption","tag-beetroots-health-benefits","tag-benefit","tag-cancer","tag-community","tag-cyprus","tag-diet","tag-doctor","tag-evidence","tag-food","tag-google","tag-google-news","tag-health","tag-health-benefits","tag-health-issues","tag-impact","tag-increase","tag-interventions","tag-issues","tag-licence","tag-medicines","tag-minerals","tag-news","tag-nitric-oxide","tag-oil","tag-olive-oil","tag-performance","tag-pressure","tag-products","tag-recipes","tag-research","tag-risk","tag-salt","tag-science","tag-sex","tag-shortage","tag-support","tag-swim","tag-treatment","tag-uk","tag-university","tag-water","tag-who","tag-women"],"acf":{"keyphrase":"","keywords":"","sourceimg":"","country-category":""},"yoast_head":"\nNo, 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