If you’ve never made the decision to put that beetroot in your shopping trolley at the super market, now might be the time to start! Beetroot is a versatile vegetable, perfect for athletes who train hard.
What makes beetroot so special? You might ask. Beetroot contains phytonutrients called betalains which are what give the vegetable its vibrant colour. In addition to this betalains also provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and detoxification support. Beetroots are the perfect immune booster.
Whilst beetroots house the all-important betalain nutrient they also contain copious amounts of nitrates. The body undergoes a reaction where these nitrates are converted to nitric oxide and this process can have a number of positive effects. Some of these positive effects include an increase in blood flow to the muscles, increasing the flow of oxygen throughout the body and assistance to the immune system in fighting bacteria.
It is clear as to why beetroot could be an excellent inclusion in your weekly shop. If you don’t know what to do with it try placing it in a juice or smoothie or roasting it and adding it to a salad.
WAIS Sports Dietitian Terreen Stenvers, also recommends this quick and simple beetroot dip recipe which makes getting beetroot into your diet both easy and delicious!
Beetroot Yoghurt Dip
1 medium Raw Beetroot, peeled and coarsely grated
1/2 cup Greek Yoghurt
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
1/4 teaspoon Ground Cumin
Cracked Black Pepper
- Place grated beetroot, yoghurt, lemon juice, cumin and pepper in a medium bowl and toss until well combined.
- Serve with crackers, vegetable crudités, wholegrain toast, or as an accompaniment to burgers, grilled fish, chicken, beef or lamb.
Beetroot Fast Facts
- A 100g serve of beetroot contains 43 calories, 2g of protein, 0g of fat, 10g of carbohydrate and 3g of fibre.
- When choosing a beetroot it should be firm, smooth and a vibrant red-purple colour.
- Beetroots with the greens still attached can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, if the greens have been removed they can be refrigerated for up to 4 weeks.
References
https://athletictraining.com/2015/07/29/health-benefits-of-beets-for-athletes/
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/ingredient-focus-beetroot
