One of the questions I’m asked most often is about skin sagging and wrinkles. People tend to fall into one of the two categories, wrinkles or sagging, but they all want to know what to do about it.
I prefer the holistic approach in all areas of my life, including beauty and anti-aging. Applying lotions treats the skin that has already reached the surface and I do use them daily. To see real improvement, it’s best to go deep and provide the proper nutrients to your cells for overall health and that is reflected in your appearance. Some time ago I became aware of the increased buzz around beet root to improve health and improved skin tone and texture, so I decided to try adding it to my daily intake. I use a superfood system everyday, so I am supplying my body with all the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients required for optimal health. One of the products I use, a pre-workout product, contains root vegetables. Because I was already consuming some of the nutrients found in beets, I wasn’t sure that I would see a result. I am very happy to say that not only do I notice a physical improvement, but I just feel better!
What is it that makes beets so special?
Beets come from the same family, Chenopod, as spinach and chard and come in several colors; red, orange, white and gold. Many years ago, people thought the leaves were the consumable part of the plant as they provide vitamins A & C, copper, calcium and iron. The beet root offers even more nutrients! In the root we find vitamins A & C, potassium, manganese, fiber and iron. These nutrients are beneficial to skin health as they stimulate cell repair and protection, which protects from wrinkles and sagging.
The benefits of beets are more than skin deep. There are numerous studies that show beetroot extract may provide anti-cancer benefits, helps fight macular degeneration with A and carotenoids, aids in heart & brain function with nitrates to clean and improve blood flow.
How to add beets into your diet:
FRESH BEETS – Look for small (3″ diameter or less) smooth beets with a round shape and dark firm leaves attached. Avoid scratched or cracked beets. Smaller, rounded beets generally taste better than larger ones and if you are choosing the red variety, look for a deep color. the BEST way to consume beets is by juicing the beets and greens, it is a very powerful detox agent and I recommend adding other vegetables to the juice to soften the detox effects, especially when adding the juice to your regime for the first time. The juice is best consumed immediately, but may be stored for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.
The beet roots may be stored in your refrigerator, in a sealed container, for up to 3 weeks if you don’t wash them before storing! The greens will only last 2-3 days, so make sure to remove them and store separately.
CANNED BEETS – Surprisingly, canned beets retain almost the same nutritional value and flavor as fresh beets! Remember to look for products that are low in sodium. You may also rinse them in water before eating and this can reduce the amount of sodium by as much as 50%.
POWDERS & SUPPLEMENTS – There are many options available on the market today, if you prefer not to consume whole beets in their natural form. Always read the ingredients on the label to make sure getting whole, clean product. If you would like to know what I use, just send me an note!
By now you may be thinking that this sounds great, but are wondering how many beets do you need to eat! I love the taste of beets, but do not eat them as a whole food everyday. I drink juice in a powdered form daily and another serving in my pre-workout drink. As I reviewed the research on beets, I find that most studies recommend from 1/4 cup to 2 cups of beetroot juice per day. I recommend starting with the lowest daily intake and increase over time as your body adjusts.
Beets are not one of those “if a little is good, a lot is better” things! You can have too much. Consuming too much beetroot juice could actually have a negative impact on things like anemia, iron and liver function, please stay within the recommended guidelines and consult your doctor.
One last thing, please don’t be alarmed if your stool or urine changes color, it’s a side effect of the beet color. Also, beet juice is not recommended for people with, or susceptible to, kidney stones. As always, please consult with your doctor before beginning any new diet or exercise program.
To read some of the studies on the benefits of beets, here’s a great place to start:
http://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/items/smd/146262.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4425174/
http://www.aicr.org/press/health-features/health-talk/2014/dec14/Nutritional-value-beets.html
