You’re recently diagnosed with anemia. You often suffer from shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, and extreme fatigue, and that’s terrible.
It is normal to feel down at first. But do not get stuck with that feeling. It is time to add iron-rich foods into your diet, and beet is included in the list.
It is good news if you are already eating beet. But are you at the point where you are already tired of the taste?
Have you added it into a tomato soup, tartare, or gnocchi? Why don’t you make it a beet smoothie for a change and to satisfy your cravings?
But is beet rich in iron? How to make a beet smoothie for anemia? Keep reading for more!
Beet is High In Iron
Beet is a good source of iron. For every 100 grams of cooked or raw beetroot, there’s 0.8 mg of iron. This is 4.4% of the recommended iron intake for adult females.
However, the beet green is different because it has 2.5 mg of iron for every 100 grams.
Why Consume Beet Smoothie
Not everyone would like beet because of its bitter and earthy taste. But do not underestimate beet. Here are some of its benefits to expect and enjoy.
Promote Iron Balance
The liver plays an important role in balancing the level of iron in the body. It specifically makes the hormone hepcidin responsible for regulating iron. But an unhealthy liver can be a game-changer. Iron-rich foods like beet can help support your liver health. Beet has betain that can protect our liver from toxins.
Boost Athletic Performance
Another benefit of beet is that it can enhance your athletic performance as iron helps hemoglobin transfer enough oxygen to the brain, liver, kidney, and muscle tissues as well. This increases your work capacity in the gym or while playing a favorite sport like basketball and football.
Promote Healthy Pregnancy
There are many things that happen during pregnancy. The red blood cells and blood volume, for example, increase. This is to ensure that the fetus receives all the nutrients it needs.
But when pregnant moms are anemic, there’s a high risk of low birth weight, premature birth, and cognitive problems.
This is where beet may help. But it is important to take iron supplements for better results and healthier pregnancy.
Improve the Quality of Sleep
After a tedious shift in the office, you want to sleep right away. But if hours had passed and you could still not fall asleep, you are more likely to have an iron deficiency.
At first, you might tend to ignore your health problem because you believe that the fatigue you experience is because of your work.
Without proper and quick modification of your diet, anemia at an advanced stage can lead to cardiovascular complications, including a heart enlargement or failure.
Do not wait for that to happen. It is time to incorporate beet and other foods rich in iron into your everyday diet.
A Great Source of Vitamin A
Recent research suggests that vitamin A deficiency leads to anemia. A study revealed that children who consumed vitamin A supplements for a few months increased their mean hemoglobin by 7 g/dL. The 54% of children with anemia decreased to 38%. The study also found that vitamin A activates erythropoietin, which assists in producing red blood cells.
Rich in Vitamin C
Imagine you take beet and supplement for a month, and nothing happens. That can be frustrating, and it is possible your body does not absorb your daily iron intake as it should be, and vitamin C may be of great help. Luckily, beet is packed with vitamin C and other nutrients.
Easy Steps to Make Delicious Beet Smoothie For Anemia
It’s sad to know that you haven’t ever tried beet smoothie. If you want to give it a shot but don’t know how to make one, here are some simple steps you can follow for sure:
Prepare All the Necessary Ingredients
Beet has a bitter and earthy taste, and not all people would love that. You can add fresh banana, 1 1/2 cup of blueberries, a half cup of almond milk, a cup of beet greens, two pitted dates, 3/4 cup peeled and diced red beets.
Add These Ingredients into a Blender
Wait until the blend is smooth. Then, you can pour it into a bowl, glass, or cup. Share it with your friends and family. You can also add other fruits or even vegetables depending on what you like. There is no rule to follow, remember.
So, are you suffering from extreme dizziness, headaches, or a fast heartbeat? Consult your doctor as early as now because you may have iron deficiency. Then, do not forget to consider adding beet to your diet. You can have it soy-braised, picked, and salt-roasted. But a beet smoothie is always the best.