Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. vulgaris Seeds
Beetroot Vegetable
The garden beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. vulgaris), also known as the table beet, beetroot, red beet or informally simply as beet, is one of the many cultivated varieties of beets. The usually deep-red roots of garden beet are eaten boiled either as a cooked vegetable or cold as a salad after cooking and adding oil and vinegar. A large proportion of the commercial production is processed into boiled and sterilised beets or into pickles. In Eastern Europe beet soup, such as cold borscht, is a popular dish. Beetroots are rich in the nutrient betaine, which is important for cardiovascular health. Additionally, several preliminary studies on both rats and humans have shown that betaine may protect against liver disease, particularly the build-up of fatty deposits in the liver caused by alcohol abuse, protein deficiency, or diabetes, among other causes. The nutrient also helps individuals with hypochlorhydria, a condition causing abnormally low levels of stomach acid, by increasing stomach acidity. Beetroot juice has been shown to lower blood pressure and thus help prevent cardiovascular problems. Research published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension showed drinking 500 ml of beetroot juice a day led to a reduction in blood pressure within one hour. The reduction was more pronounced after three to four hours, and was measurable up to 24 hours after drinking the juice. The effect is attributed to the high nitrate content of the beetroot. The study correlated high nitrate concentrations in the blood following ingestion of the beetroot juice and the drop in blood pressure. Dietary nitrate, such as that found in the beetroot, is thought to be a source for the biological messenger nitric oxide, which is used by the endothelium to signal smooth muscle, triggering it to relax. This induces vasodilation and increased blood flow. Since Roman times, beetroot juice has been considered an aphrodisiac. It is a rich source of the element boron, which plays an important role in the production of human sex hormones. From the middle ages, beetroot was used as a treatment for a variety of conditions, especially illnesses relating to digestion and the blood.
