The beet plant, or Beta vulgaris, produces a dark-purple vegetable known as the beet root or garden root. The leaves of the plant are known as the vegetable chard. Both the roots and the leaves of the beet plant are high in nutrients and recommended for a healthy diet. Beets have been used traditionally as a blood purifier, which aids the function of your spleen. It was eventually discovered that the high levels of antioxidants in beets were the primary factor. Beets are also a very good source of iron, which prevents anemia and reduces strain on your spleen.
Brief History
The beet plant has been cultivated for at least 4,000 years. It is probably native to the Mediterranean region, although its use quickly spread to the Middle East and Asia. Beets were popular in ancient Greece, and Hippocrates, the "father of modern medicine," recommended their use for binding wounds, digestive problems and blood cleansing, according to the "Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition." The ancient Romans used beet root to treat fevers and constipation. Since Roman times, beet root juice has been considered an aphrodisiac and has been used to fight infections.
Nutritional Profile
Beet roots are high in folic acid and manganese, while the leaves of the beet plant are high in vitamins A, C and K, as well as iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese and potassium, according to the "American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide." For example, 100 g of raw beet greens contain about 14 mg of iron, which is over three times as much as the same amount of beet roots. Both the roots and leaves of the beet plant are high in antioxidants, which help eliminate free radicals and protect your blood vessels and other tissues from oxidative damage. Beet roots also display mild anti-inflammatory properties.
Beets and Your Spleen
The primary functions of your spleen are to filter the blood of debris and nonfunctioning blood cells, store healthy red blood cells, produce antibodies to fight infections and recycle iron, according to the "Textbook for Functional Medicine." The antioxidants in beets may help to protect your spleen from oxidative damage, and their anti-inflammatory properties would be beneficial during any sort of trauma, as the spleen is very sensitive to injury. The spleen can be overworked while fighting infections and dealing with anemia, so the antioxidants, iron and folic acid in beets act to reduce the spleen's workload. Further, according to the "Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Reference," the compound that gives beet roots their color, betacyanin, has shown cancer-fighting abilities in animal studies, especially cancers of the colon, liver, skin, lungs and spleen.
Cautions
All parts of the beet plant contain oxalic acid, and high consumption of either the roots or the leaves may increase your risk of kidney stones, as explained by Eric Newsholme, author of "Functional Biochemistry in Health and Disease." Further, the betacyanin in beet roots may cause red urine, known as beeturia, in people who are unable to metabolize it properly.
References
- "Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition"; Benjamin Caballero, et al.; 2005
- "American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide, 3rd Edition"; Roberta Larson Duyff; 2006
- "Textbook for Functional Medicine"; David S. Jones; 2005
- "Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Reference: Evidence-Based Clinical Reviews"; Catherine E. Ulbricht, et al.; 2005
- "Functional Biochemistry in Health and Disease"; Eric Newsholme, et al.; 2010
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