The Wonders of Beet Juice
Beet Juice can be very beneficial for our health. Beet juice has been shown to increase a person's energy and stamina levels. Beets are a liver-protective food and they help with detoxifying the body. Beet Juice is a rich source of both nitrates and antioxidants. Nitrates improve blood flow by increasing the nitric oxide levels in the body. Nitric oxide relaxes the muscles that control blood vessel diameter. This increases blood flow resulting in improved oxygen distribution through out the body. Beet juice has been shown to effectively lower blood pressure due to the effect of the nitrates. Antioxidants help prevent damage to the body by removing free radicals. The removal of free radicals lowers the risk of developing cancer and helps slow degenerative changes.
Cooking or pickling beets decreases some of the benefits of the beets because these processes decrease the phytonutrients in the beets. If you make your own beet juice, some experts recommend that you start adding it to your diet slowly with a quarter cup of beet juice per day and work up to drinking two cups per day. The detoxifying effects of beet juice can initially make some people feel worse if they have a lot of toxins built up in their liver. It is also a normal and a benign side effect to have your urine and stool turn reddish from the beet juice. Beet juice is high in oxalates and people with oxalate type kidney stones should probably avoid beet juice. Consult your doctor before drinking large amounts of beet juice if you are taking high blood pressure medication. Consult your doctor of chiropractic before starting on any significant dietary change or starting a new supplement.
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/truth-about-beetroot-juice
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23640589
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23370859