Living life with diabetes isn’t easy. You need to deal with many different things: tracking your blood sugar levels, taking medicines on time, and choosing what to eat carefully.
Often described as a superfood, beetroot is an excellent option for people with diabetes. Loaded with antioxidants, fiber, iron, and other vital nutrients, it is a great addition to a diabetic person’s diet. There are various other reasons to include beetroot-based items in your diet. So, how exactly is beetroot good for diabetes? Let’s find out.
Is beetroot really the best food for diabetics?
As stated above, beetroots are bless with a lot of nutritional value. They’re not just rich in antioxidants but also include fiber, potassium, and iron.
Consuming beetroot as part of your diet reduces the chances of nerve and eye damage, usually caused due to high blood sugar. They also contain nutrients like alpha-lipoic acid, non-betalain, and betalain, which lower blood sugar levels and improve your insulin sensitivity. You can easily consume it as a juice, mix it with salad or opt for simple yogurt dips.
Benefits of Consuming Beetroot: The Best Food for Diabetics
Given below is a list of benefits that prove that beetroot is good for diabetes:
- Beetroot helps lower blood sugar and insulin.
Beetroot is blessed with various phytochemicals that help control your body’s blood sugar levels and insulin.
Low insulin levels can often lead to high blood sugar in patients; hence consuming beetroot juice can help increase insulin sensitivity in the body.
Controlling blood sugar levels is important for diabetics. As per a research published in 2014, drinking 225 millimeters or half a cup of beetroot juice can lead to a drop in blood sugar levels.
Owing to this, beetroot is often consider among the best foods for diabetics.
- Decreases the risk of chronic diseases
Powered by antioxidants, beetroot helps in preventing chronic diseases. The antioxidants present in beetroot fight free radicals, which are known for causing cellular damage.
Cellular damage caused by free radicals is often called ‘oxidative stress’. This condition is often linked to multiple diseases, including cancer and heart ailments.
According to research published on PubMed, beetroot contains 1.7 millimoles of antioxidants. These antioxidants are often referr to as betalain – an element that causes the vegetable’s reddish color. With inflammation being a serious concern, beetroot also helps cure various medical conditions.
- It helps in lowering the risk of diabetes complications
Diabetes as a condition can lead to several complications. Excess sugar in your bloodstream can affect your blood vessels and blood circulation.
Is beetroot good for diabetes? Going by different research papers over the years, it seems to be a good option.
Given below are some diabetes-related complications that can be controlled by beetroot:
- Retinotherapy
- Nerve damage
- Kidney-related issues
- Neurotherapy
- Reduced oxidative stress
- Cardiovascular issues
- Helps in lowering insulin resistance
According to some experts, beetroot juice helps increase insulin sensitivity in diabetics. Owing to this, the hormone usually helps regulate blood sugar levels in patients.
Beetroot is known to contain metabolites, which further reduce insulin resistance.
A 2017 study found obese patients consuming beetroot juice to have reduced insulin resistance. On the other hand, non-obese participants didn’t show similar results.
This implies that when consumed by obese, diabetic patients, beetroot does improve
insulin resistance.
- Lowers blood pressure
Diabetes can lead to a lot of different complications. Various cardiovascular issues and those associated with high blood pressure are some common ill-effects of the same.
An individual with high blood sugar is usually susceptible to developing blood pressure later.
However, regular consumption of beetroot can help decrease the risk of high blood pressure.
Moreover, the presence of nitrate further widens blood vessels, helping improve your blood circulation.
- Improves exercise and performance
Exercising regularly not only balances blood sugar levels but also increases physical strength.
Beetroots are among the best foods for diabetics and can help improve exercise performance.
Beetroot juice increases nitric oxide in the blood, further accelerating muscle growth and recovery.
Ways to Add Beetroot to Your Diet
Beetroot is an excellent addition to one’s diet. It can consume raw or in the form of juice and salad.
A versatile vegetable, beetroot is known for its sweet taste. It can also add to your diet, supplying essential nutrients to the body.
Bottomline
As is evident now, beetroot is good for diabetes. It has various nutrients that provide ample nourishment to our bodies.
Multiple studies have proven that beetroot also controls blood sugar effectively.
Packed with nitrates, phosphate, and iron, beetroot can consume in various forms. So if you’re thinking of including beets in your diet, now is the time to do so!
