Vegetables are known to confer significant health effects for a number of reasons. Beta vulgaris rubra (beetroot) is a vegetable food with a number of health effects in humans and animals. One of the main reasons for the health effects of beetroot may relate to the presence of high amounts of nitrates in the roots. Nitrate can be absorbed in humans and animals, where nitric oxide synthase can convert it to nitric oxide. Nitric oxide may have beneficial effects at dilating blood vessels, and may be involved in other important physiological functions such as hormone release and cellular signaling. Oxidative stress can reduce the concentration of nitric oxide synthase in tissues and this decreases the availability of nitric oxide, thus negatively affecting health. Consuming beets as supplements or as whole vegetables may therefore confer significant beneficial health effects, particularly protection from cardiovascular disease, which appears to develop as a result of nitric oxide deficiency in arteries of the body.
Eat Well, Stay Healthy, protect Yourself
RdB
