Beetroot is one of the most popular winter vegetables with many health benefits, and it is also one of the most recommended vegetables in low-fat diets. Other names include beetroot, beetroot, red beetroot, or barba. But Is beetroot good for health? And can it be eaten? Get to know us through this article.

beetroot leaf

Beetroot leaves are the small leafy tops of the beetroot plant, and are a rich source of many minerals, vitamins and antioxidants that are beneficial for the health of the body. It is also considered one of the low-calorie leafy vegetables.

Although beetroot leaves can be collected at any stage of plant development, they are at their best when the plant is still young, and its stems are soft and smooth.

Beet leaf uses

One of the uses of beetroot leaves is that it adds a good and distinctive flavor to many cooking dishes, such as:

• Salad dishes
• Some types of sauces
• Meat and poultry dishes
• fish dishes
• frying dishes;
• pasta dishes

Beetroot leaves are also suitable with some delicious ingredients such as olive oil, coconut oil, onions, garlic, red pepper, and ground black pepper.

Beetroot nutritional value

Each 100 gm of fresh beetroot leaves contains 30 mg of vitamin C, which covers 50% of the recommended daily allowance. This is in addition to containing vitamin A and vitamin K.

Beetroot contains groups of B vitamins such as folate, vitamin B6, niacin, thiamine, and pantothenic acid, which in turn act as coenzymes during the body’s metabolism.

Beetroot leaves are also a rich source of minerals such as calcium, potassium, iron, sodium, copper, magnesium, and phosphorous.

They are all important minerals in order to help the body form red blood cells, maintain heart rate, regulate blood pressure levels, and reduce the risk of anemia and osteoporosis.

Benefits of beetroot leaf

One of the advantages of beetroot is that it is considered one of the best sources for obtaining antioxidants from beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Which in turn helps to reduce the growth of cancer cells, and protects the heart and blood vessels. Among the benefits of beetroot leaf:

Maintain eye health

Beetroot, because it contains zeaxanthin and vitamin A, helps maintain eye health and helps prevent retinal detachment. It also provides protection against age-related macular degeneration in the elderly.

Boosting the functioning of the immune system

Vitamin C is a powerful water-soluble antioxidant that works to protect the body from infection factors by promoting the production of white blood cells, scavenging harmful free radicals, and increasing collagen production, which is an important protein that supports healthy skin, teeth, and bones. and vascular health.

Maintaining dental health

Calcium and vitamin C help strengthen the gums and soft tissues in the mouth, and prevent loose teeth. This is by protecting oral and dental health from gum infections, and the early stage of gum disease.

Promote bone health

Vitamin C is one of the essential vitamins for the formation of collagen, which is the basis on which bone mineralization is built. So some studies have linked increased levels of vitamin C to increased bone density. Note that most people can get enough vitamin C through diet alone.

Maintaining healthy skin

Beetroot contains vitamin A, which is one of the most important vitamins for maintaining healthy skin, relieving skin infections, and protecting it from pimples and pimples.

Beetroot leaves for hair

Beetroot leaves are a good source of a group of important vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin B6, and folic acid. Which plays an essential role in promoting hair growth, keeping the scalp clean, and preventing hair loss.

Henna leaves are also very useful for treating dandruff and itchy scalp, while improving hair texture and shine. So using both beetroot leaves and ground henna leaves together will help promote hair growth and protect it from damage.

How to use beetroot leaves for hair

• Beetroot leaves (about 8 to 10 leaves) are boiled in water, until the water reduces to half its quantity.
• The leaves are filtered and ground to make a paste
• Add a tablespoon of henna to the beetroot
• The dough is used to gently massage the scalp
• Preferably wait for about 25 minutes before rinsing the hair with a little warm water

How to cook beetroot leaves

In order to cook beetroot leaves, you have to wash the leaves well in a colander under cold water to clean the leaves of any surface dirt. Then dry the leaves using a paper towel.

Young beet leaves can be eaten raw or by mixing them with some other vegetables. As for the large leaves, it is better to eat cooked, or steamed. This is because they are somewhat bitter in taste, due to the fact that they contain oxalic acid.

How to make sautéed beet leaves

In order to cook beetroot leaves, you will have the following ingredients:

• 1 minced garlic clove
• 2 teaspoons of butter
• 1 bunch of beetroot leaves, cut into thin strips
• Salt and Pepper

How to prepare

• Wash the beetroot leaves well
• Cut the leaves into thin slices
• Heat a medium sized frying pan over a medium heat to melt the butter
• After the butter has melted, add the minced garlic, and cook for 30 seconds before adding the beetroot leaves
• After adding the leaves, gently stir the beetroot leaves and garlic into the melted butter, adding a pinch of salt and pepper

Now that you know the benefits of beetroot, here’s another piece of advice. When buying beetroot leaves, avoid leaves that are yellow, shriveled, or overripe. This is because it is less appetizing and can spoil quickly.

You can also store beetroot leaves, like chard or spinach, by:

• Keep beetroot leaves in a perforated plastic bag.
• Store in refrigerator at over 95% relative humidity.

This way you can keep the leaves fresh for about two or three days.