Could Beets Help Your Beats?

Laura Diffenderfer | Jan 07, 2010 | 0

Cucumber, beets, and goat cheese

As January gets going, many of us are thinking about how we can improve our health and performance in 2010. For many, that means jumping back into dancing after the holidays with gusto - and sometimes that leap leads to some seriously soar muscles.

But, don't beat yourself up for taking a break! Turn to healthy foods that heal you up and even make you stronger. Say goodbye to slow, low, tired jumps and hello to BEETS!

Beets have innumerable health benefits. One serving provides more than 30% of your day's worth of folic acid (aka vitamin B9), which is essential for numerous bodily functions like synthesizing and repairing DNA - which your body especially needs when it is working hard.

A recent study in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that the juice of this veggie may help us dance for longer periods at a time - up to 16% longer! The researchers found that the beet's nitrate content reduced oxygen uptake, which made exercise less tiring.

Studies also show that people whose diets included lots of choline (found in egg yolk and soybeans), and its metabolite betaine (found in vegetables like as beets and spinach) reduces inflammation, report Greek researchers in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Plus, the pigment that gives beets their rich, dark red color - betacyanin - is also a powerful cancer-fighting agent.

So, dancers, jump to it! Grab a beet and brise away!

Tip on How To Enjoy Beets:

Add canned or fresh, boiled beets to a salad. Drop in some creamy goat cheese for protein, and top with a soft boiled egg to get most bang for your beet, so to speak. Sprinkle with good olive oil and some balsamic vinegar and enjoy!

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Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Broadway, Teacher, Healt, Healthy, Diet, Tips, Exercise, Beats, Beets (all tags)