The red beetroot was considered by the Ancient Greeks to be medicinal, whilst its juice was used as a hair dye.
The ancient Romans considered beetroot to be an aphrodisiac and The Lupanare, the official brothel of Pompeii, had its walls decorated with pictures of the vegetable.
From the Middle Ages, beetroot was used as a treatment for a variety of conditions, especially illnesses relating to digestion and the blood.
The 17th century herbalist Nicholas Culpeper said that beetroot juice is good for headaches and afflictions of the brain.
The beetroot we eat now is Beta vulgaris, which evolved as a cultivated version of the sea beet, Beta maritima.
Raw beetroot is 88% water, 10% carbohydrates, 2% protein, and less than 1% fat.
In studies conducted by the Exeter University, scientists found cyclists who drank a half-liter of beetroot juice several hours before setting off were able to ride up to 20% longer than those who drank a placebo blackcurrant juice.
Betanin, obtained from the roots, is used industrially as red food colorants, e.g. to improve the color and flavor of tomato paste, sauces, desserts, jams and jellies, ice cream, sweets and breakfast cereals.
In other forms betain is used to help treat depression. It’s also an amino acid, trytophan, that helps improve mood, memory and reduces stress. And finally it’s the feel good chemical in chocolate.
The ancient Romans considered beetroot to be an aphrodisiac and The Lupanare, the official brothel of Pompeii, had its walls decorated with pictures of the vegetable.
From the Middle Ages, beetroot was used as a treatment for a variety of conditions, especially illnesses relating to digestion and the blood.
The 17th century herbalist Nicholas Culpeper said that beetroot juice is good for headaches and afflictions of the brain.
The beetroot we eat now is Beta vulgaris, which evolved as a cultivated version of the sea beet, Beta maritima.
Raw beetroot is 88% water, 10% carbohydrates, 2% protein, and less than 1% fat.
In studies conducted by the Exeter University, scientists found cyclists who drank a half-liter of beetroot juice several hours before setting off were able to ride up to 20% longer than those who drank a placebo blackcurrant juice.
Betanin, obtained from the roots, is used industrially as red food colorants, e.g. to improve the color and flavor of tomato paste, sauces, desserts, jams and jellies, ice cream, sweets and breakfast cereals.
In other forms betain is used to help treat depression. It’s also an amino acid, trytophan, that helps improve mood, memory and reduces stress. And finally it’s the feel good chemical in chocolate.
The green, leafy portion of the beet is also edible. It is most commonly served boiled or steamed, in which case it has a taste and texture similar to spinach.
If you boil beetroots in water and then massage the water into your scalp each night, it works as an effective cure for dandruff.
The world’s heaviest beetroot was grown in Cwmbran, Gwent, Wales by Jamie Courtney-Fortey, Gareth Fortey, Marjorie Fortey and Kevin Fortey. Its weight of 23.995 kg (52 lb 14 oz), was verified on May 23, 2019.
Source Wikipedia, Daily Express
No comments:
Post a Comment