The African Development Bank on Wednesday signed protocols to disburse a $14 million grant to the Government of South Sudan to boost agricultural markets in a project to be implemented by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The Agricultural Markets, Value Addition, and Trade Development (AMVAT) project aims to enhance agricultural productivity and boost the marketing and trade of agricultural products in South Sudan. The project will be implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in close liaison with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The five-year project will help increase the productivity and incomes of almost 20,000 farming families in Central and Eastern Equatoria and Jonglei states, most of whom are formerly internally displaced persons who have now returned to their homes.
The project will create aggregation business opportunities for farmers and traders, including women and youth, and provide them with new skills and the agro-processing equipment they need to produce competitive products. Twenty aggregation business centers will serve as ‘one-stop shops’ where farmers can access extension services and connect to markets for their value-added products. Farmer groups joining the aggregation centers will have their products not only tested and quality certified, but also traded with the private sector on their behalf.
“A diversified economy away from oil and long-term growth depends on promoting agribusiness development,” said Athian Ding Athian, South Sudan’s Minister of Finance and Planning at the signing ceremony, thanking the African Development Bank for its growing assistance. “With the support from our partners, we are building an improved marketing and trade environment for agribusinesses, increasing people’s incomes and creating new jobs, particularly for the youth.”
The Bank’s Country Manager for South Sudan, Benedict Kanu, noted that “a key factor explaining Africa’s and indeed South Sudan’s low level of agricultural value addition is the inefficient marketing infrastructure. This prevents farmers and processors from realizing the full value of their products, even in their raw form.”
South Sudan has considerable unrealized agricultural potential, but the effects of continued violence combined with unprecedented flooding have seriously damaged food production, resulting in a huge food import bill.
“Thanks to this generous contribution from the African Development Bank, farmers will move faster from subsistence to commercial agriculture by having access to new technologies, markets, and linkages with other services and actors,” said Meshack Malo, FAO Representative in South Sudan.
Despite the country’s agricultural potential and 78 percent of the population employed in agriculture, the sector contributes only one-tenth of the GDP of South Sudan. Agricultural and food products struggle to find their way into international markets due partly to the lack of adequate food quality controls.
The Bank and FAO are partnering with government bodies to strengthen the safety and quality of local agricultural products. To this end, two mini testing laboratories will be established in Central and Eastern Equatoria to enable farmers to test and certify their value-added products, particularly cereals, oilseeds, and maize, before selling them on various markets.
Groundnut, also known as peanut or pignut is described as both fruit and vegetable. It is one of the best sources of protein. Consuming groundnut is very beneficial for our health.
Peanut contains vitamin E, magnesium, foliate, copper, and arginine. Studies reveal that peanuts can even be useful for weight loss and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, the skins have an ample amount of natural antioxidants & a high content of dietary fiber. This is with reference to the different types, be it light-roasted or dark-roasted.
The medicinal benefits of groundnut are: Promotes Fertility Groundnut also contains a good amount of folate. Several studies have shown that women who had a daily consumption of 400 micrograms of folic acid before & during early pregnancy reduced the risk of having a baby born with a serious neural tube defect by up to 70 percent.
Promote Heart Health According to researchers, people who regularly eat groundnuts were far less likely to die of heart stroke, or disease. Peanuts and other nuts can also lower the bad cholesterol (LDL) levels. Bad cholesterol can lead to plaque development on the blood vessels & peanuts can prevent this.
Groundnut can also reduce the inflammation that can cause heart disease. The resveratrol in groundnuts also helps fight heart problems.
Boosts Memory Peanuts contain vitamin B3 or niacin content whose many health benefits include normal brain functioning as well as boosting memory power.
Helps in Weight Loss Peanuts or groundnuts are called energy-dense foods. If you include them as a snack then it will make you eat fewer calories later in the day. Compared to consuming them with a meal, groundnuts elicited stronger feelings of fullness when eaten as a snack. This will ultimately help with weight loss.
Including groundnut or other nuts in your diet is a great way to enhance palatability & nutrient intake without causing weight gain.
Prevents Gallstones Consumption of peanuts is also linked to a lowered risk of gallstones. Men having 5 or more units of nuts that include groundnuts in a week had a low risk of gallstone disease. Likewise, women who consume 5 or more units of nuts in a week had a reduced risk of cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder).
Helps Fight Depression Groundnuts are good sources of tryptophan, which is an essential amino acid that is important for the production of serotonin, one of the important brain chemicals involved in mood regulation. When depression takes place, a decreased amount of serotonin may be released from the nerve cells in the brain. Tryptophan can increase serotonin’s antidepressant effects when there is an increased amount of serotonin in the blood.
Boosts Hair Growth Few researchers believe that as peanuts contain all the amino acids & protein, they could be a good supplementation to a diet for hair growth.
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is to appear before Parliament over non-payment to cocoa farmers through their respective Licensed Buying Companies (LBC) for the period of the 2020/21 crop season.
The First Deputy Speaker Parliament. Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu gave this directive in a reaction after a complaint was made by Hon. Kofi Adams, MP for Buem, and the contribution statements made by the Members on the plight of cocoa farmers in cocoa-growing areas for not receiving payments.
The Speaker further directed the Leadership of the House to the programme officials of the board to meet The Committee of The Whole of Parliament to discuss the issues.
Hon. Adams statement was titled: “The Plight of Cocoa Farmers in the Buem Constituency Despite $1.3 billion loan facility to the Ghana Cocoa Board.”
According to Hon Adams, reports from his constituency and other constituencies in the cocoa-growing regions have it that, cocoa farmers have not been paid by LBCs for their cocoa purchased in the last two months even though they are in the third month of the main cocoa season.
“The Ghana Cocoa Board secured a $ 1.3 billion-dollar facility to purchase cocoa beans for 2020/21 crop season. This facility was to assist Cocoa board make an upfront payment for cocoa beans that it purchases from cocoa farmers”, Hon Adams said.
“Most of the cocoa farmers in Ghana depend mainly on the proceeds of the cocoa sale to fend for themselves and their families and most importantly to prepare new farmlands for the next farming season,” Hon. added
“The proceeds of these sales are been used by them to pay their bills ranging from school fees through domestic utilities to medical bills”, Hon. said
The Buem MP urged the House to intervene to get the Ghana Cocoa Board to release funds to LBCs to enable them to pay the farmers for the cocoa beans purchased, during the period under review.
“It was Parliament which approved the syndicated facility for the purpose of purchasing cocoa for the (2020/21) crop,” Hon. Adam argued.
Hon Adams later at a news conference, supported by Hon, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, MP for Juaboso, threw more light on the matter, arguing that the non-payment to the cocoa farmer worsened their economic plight during the period.
The Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Efutu, Hon. Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, at a news conference, refuted the claims made by the Buem MP.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin dared Hon. Adams to name the LBCs that had not paid the cocoa farmers, as he (Hon. Afenyo-Markin) said the COCOBOD had settled all LBCs that raised certificates for payment.
Palm wine might be known as a tropical local alcoholic drink that has a sweet taste when freshly tapped and is enjoyed by as many that loved it either when sweet or sour, thus refreshing them all the time but it is really more than that.
In as much as it does all of the above, most people still fail to understand that palm wine contains rich nutrients that provide the body with lots of amazing benefits.
Nutritional Values of Palm Wine. It may not be surprising to say that palm wine contains sugar, bacteria and yeast (which causes fermentation), but it is surprising when nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, vitamin C, Amino acids, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin B’s are mentioned but it surely contains them all and even more yet to be proven.
Here are surprising health benefits of Palm wine you may not know Improves Eye Vision This is one of the primary functions of palm-wine which many people are aware of but may not really know what nutrients actually do the work. The presence of the vitamins in palm wine such as vitamin C and B’s have a vital role which they play in improving eye vision.
While vitamin C helps in building the connective tissues of the body and the blood vessels of the eye preventing related eye problems like cataracts, macular degeneration, etc., Vitamin B1 and B12 help in solving vascular-related issues that concern the retina which could result in chronic inflammation and more.
Generally, vitamins help in keeping the eye healthy and reduces the chances of getting eye problems as much as possible.
Potassium also helps in keeping the eye healthy and moist as its deficiency can cause eye twitches or eye muscle spams as a result of eye dryness caused by the lack of potassium.
This benefits can’t be gotten from any other alcoholic beverage even those that promise it does, and this could be the sole reason people who live in the villages, especially our grandparents, tend to have better eyesight due to their intake of palm-wine which seems to be their top alcoholic drink.
Improves Heart Health. Its potassium content makes it a good source of drink to help combat various related cardiovascular diseases. Potassium is good for the body and helps it function better, and the expected level in the body is between 3.5 and 5 mmol/L.
It helps the nerves and muscles to function well and as such helps in normalizing the rate at which the heart beats and well helps in reducing or lowering the blood pressure.
Palm wine should be taken in moderation to provide the heart and the entire body with the potassium it needs as either too much (hyperkalemia) or low (hypokalemia) content of potassium in the body can cause irregular heartbeats which can lead to serious and deadly health problems.
Fights Cancer. Food rich in antioxidant properties is known to help in reducing cancer risk, as they help prevent oxidation processes in the body which could cause some chemical reactions in the body thereby leading to damages of vital organs and cells, ulcer, inflammation, etc.
Palm wine contains antioxidants that help prevent free radicals from damaging the cells in the body and fight cancer. An example of such antioxidants in palm wine is vitamin B2 (Riboflavin).
Build the Body’s Structure Protein is an essential nutrient which the body cannot do without, and palm wine contains lots of amino acids whose main function is to act as the building block of the macro-nutrient – Protein.
Thus, it helps in building and improving the body cells and as well help to store nutrients in the body which is vital for the functions of the body’s organ. It also plays a major role in the repairing of the body’s tissues, structures of the bones and muscles.
Improves Hair and Skin. Palm wine does more than is expected of it, it contains nutrients that help in nourishing the skin, the hair and even the nails (fingers and toes alike), such as the vitamins, zinc, magnesium, and others which plays a very important role in the improvement.
It also helps in the promotion of new body cells by removing the dead cells in the body and replacing it, thereby giving the skin a soft, smooth and better appearance.
Used to Treat Skin Rashes. In most places, palm wine can be used externally in the treatment of skin conditions such as rashes, eczema, etc., especially in small children. It is done by rubbing the affected areas with un-adultered palm wine, its content of vitamins will help soothe the skin and relieve such skin issues.
Increases Breast Milk. This is one of the functions of palm wine in the body that most people especially those in the villages are aware of. Though it is widely believed that taking of palm wine help increase breast milk in lactating mothers but scientifically, it hasn’t be proven.
But still, that doesn’t make the saying all wrong as most of the diseases and cure for the treatment of various health conditions are from naturally occurring plants and vegetations which our forefathers have practically been using.
Palm wine has long served as the main beverage for lactating mothers in many African countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, etc., where it is mostly cultivated and can be easily gotten, and have been locally proven to help mothers whose breast milk are low by increasing the flow for adequate breastfeeding.
Side Effects. In as much as palm wine is vital for our health, and is being recommended by many because of its nutritional benefits, yet it should not be taken in excess especially when it has undergone fermentation.
As it can result in hypertension, neurological problems and can as well lead to failure of the body’s vital organs such as the liver and kidney, the alcohol content in fermented palm wine is 2 or 3 times more than that in other alcoholic drinks which gives the liver work overload while trying to detoxify the system.
Many local gins can be produced from palm wine too depending on the duration of the fermentation process which still has adverse reactions to the body when taken in excess.
The German chocolate manufacturer Ritter Sport is embroiled in a row with food law regulators after being told it cannot call its latest creation a chocolate bar because it contains no sugar.
The company, which has been producing chocolate at its factory near Stuttgart for more than 100 years, and has attracted something of a cult following over its frequent new ranges, has been told the new bar contravenes Germany’s strict cocoa regulations.
The so-called Kakao-Verordnung deems that anything labeled as chocolate must contain cocoa mass, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, and sugar.
But Ritter’s new bar, called Cacao y Nada (cocoa and nothing) is 100% cocoa, sourced from its own plantation in Nicaragua. It is sweetened with cocoa juice, which is naturally found in the pulp of the cocoa bean and increasingly recognised as a product in its own right because of a naturally sweet taste said to resemble that of lychees. It was first approved as a foodstuff by the EU almost a year ago.
The use of cocoa juice instead of sugar has led German food regulators to say that Cacao y Nada does not fit its definition of chocolate.
Confectioners who break the “cocoa rule” risk being fined and banned from selling their products.
Ritter Sport has been family-run since it was founded in 1912 and is famed for its 100g four-by-four square bars – the idea of its co-founder Clara Ritter, who wanted something that would comfortably fit into a sports jacket pocket.
It has accused German food regulators of being out of step with modern trends, not least the move away from sugar towards healthier alternatives.
“It is absurd that a chocolate, which is totally made out of cocoa and does not need any added sugar, cannot be called chocolate,” Andreas Ronken, Ritter Sport’s CEO, told German media. He pointed to the example of alternatives to meat in which vegetarian sausages and burgers are made out of other foodstuffs. “If sausages can be made out of peas, chocolate should not have to have sugar in it,” he said.
The company has provisionally agreed to bring out the new bar under the label Kakaofruchttafel or “cocoa-fruit bar”, but has said it will put pressure on the authorities to change its rules.
“Our food laws need to keep up with innovations like this,” Ronken said. “They must wake up – this is a new reality.”
Ritter Sport employs 1,650 workers and exports to more than 100 countries in the world but has suffered a significant dent in its turnover during the coronavirus pandemic mainly as a result of the loss of lucrative duty-free sales at airports.
Following the second call for proposals launched in June 2020 by Expertise France under ECOWAS in the framework of the GCCA+ West Africa project funded by the European Union, 11 new pilot projects for a total budget of €2.4 million have been selected in favour of more climate-resilient agriculture.
Dominated by family farming (the main source of income and subsistence for 70% of the population), West African agriculture is struggling to access resources to invest in sustainable production capacities and in the scaling up of proven technical solutions to address climate change.
Already facing structural challenges (progressive saturation of spaces, degradation of soil fertility, etc.), regional agriculture is confronted with the dual phenomenon of climate variability and climate change that affect agricultural performances, supply stability, increasing of occurrence of climate risks, and consequently income as well as food and nutritional security.
Supporting local innovative solutions with high potential for replication. The objective of the selected pilot projects is to finance the implementation and capitalization of local innovative solutions with high potential for replication and/or scaling up for the West African region focusing on adapting to the impacts of climate change (seed selection, climate services, agroecological practices, early warning systems) and mitigating of GHG emissions (carbon storage, dewatering by solar pumping, renewable energy in processing units, etc.).
The first call for proposals launched in 2019 resulted in the selection of four projects to be implemented over a 24-month period in Benin, Niger, Mauritania, and Chad.
The 11 new projects selected in December 2020 under the second call for proposals cover Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
Led by local associations, international NGOs, farmers’ organizations, and research institutes, these 11 projects will be implemented from the beginning of 2021 for a duration of 20 months.
By targeting important value chains for the region (rice, shea, palm oil, cassava) and by strengthening the productivity of family farmers (agroforestry, agroecology, access to climate information), these local projects will then be able to benefit all farmers in the region.
Global fisheries and aquaculture have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and could face further disruption in 2021 as lockdowns affect supply and demand across the sector, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The report, “The impact of COVID-19 on fisheries and aquaculture food systems, was featured during the 34th session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI)” hosted by FAO.
Fish supply, consumption, and trade revenues for 2020 are all expected to have declined due to containment restrictions, the report noted, while global aquaculture production is expected to fall by some 1.3 percent, the first fall recorded by the sector in several years.
“The pandemic has caused widespread upheaval in fisheries and aquaculture as production has been disrupted, supply chains have been interrupted and consumer spending restricted by various lockdowns,” said FAO Deputy Director-General, Maria Helena Semedo.
“Containment measures have provoked far-reaching changes, many of which are likely to persist in the long term.”
While the food itself is not responsible for the transmission of COVID-19 to people, the report stressed every stage of the fisheries and aquaculture supply chain is susceptible to being disrupted or stopped by containment restrictions.
Aggregate prices for 2020, as measured by the Fish Price Index are down year-on-year for most traded species. Restaurant and hotel closures in many countries have also led to a fall in demand for fresh fish products.
“The impact has been significant in developing countries, especially those with large informal sectors, where small-scale and artisanal workers and communities depend on fisheries for their food security, livelihoods. They have borne the brunt of restrictions,” Semedo said.
The FAO report indicated that in aquaculture there is growing evidence that unsold production will result in increasing levels of live fish stocks, creating higher costs for feeding as well as a greater number of fish mortalities. Sectors with longer production cycles, such as salmon, cannot adjust rapidly to the demand shifts.
Global catches from wild fisheries are also expected to have declined slightly in 2020, as, overall, there has been a reduced fishing effort due to COVID‑19-related restrictions on fishing vessel crews and poor market conditions.
As a result of Covid-19, consumer preferences have shifted. While demand for fresh fish has waned, consumer demand for packaged and frozen products has grown as households look to stock up on non-perishable food.
Before the pandemic, the sector was on a general upwards trend. In 2018, global fisheries and aquaculture production (excluding aquatic plants) reached an all‑time record of nearly 179 million tonnes. Overall capture fisheries, with 96.4 million tonnes represented 54 percent of the total, while aquaculture, with 82.1 million tonnes, accounted for 46 percent. And over the last decades, fish consumption has grown significantly to an average of over 20 kilos per person.
FAO has called for disruptive border restriction measures on trade in food to be minimized for food security. The report called for sectoral and regional organizations to work together in order to manage fisheries and aquaculture during the pandemic, with measures that support job protection and ensure fast recovery of the sector without compromising sustainability.
The impact of COVID-19 on women, already vulnerable as food producers, processors, vendors, and carers, should also be considered with government support provided for women along the fish value chain.
Uncertainty continues to dominate the outlook for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, particularly with regard to the duration and severity of the pandemic.
This year COFI 34 is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, a landmark instrument endorsed by FAO member states that has been guiding efforts towards sustainable fisheries and aquaculture around the world.
With the uncertainty in the sector posed by the pandemic and other issues, the code’s principles have never been more vital to ensure the fisheries sector remains viable and sustainable.
Traditionally, Turkey berries ∕ Kwahu Nsusua are used in households for meals, giving it a somewhat bitter taste. It is one of the most nutritious vegetables in the world and its healing properties are tremendous.
Kwahu Nsusua ∕ Turkey berries are found in numerous countries around the globe like Ghana, Nigeria, Brazil, Jamaica, South America, etc. Apart from that, the turkey berries have some amazing healing benefits that are highlighted below;
Protection from Cancer. Turkey Berries are antibacterial, anti-fungal, and help to stop excessive cell growth making them significant for cancer. Research shows that the extract of Turkey Berry can help to protect against lung cancer. So include turkey berry in your regular diet to remain safe from all life-threatening diseases.
Treatment of Diabetes. Diabetes is one of the lifelong conditions that cause a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. Including dried powdered leaves of the Turkey Berry plant to cooked berries help to control diabetes. They are used to lower blood sugar. Therefore regular use of the turkey berry certainly helps to lower the diabetes level.
Treatment of Indigestion and diarrhea. Regular consumption of turkey Berry is considered good for digestion and helps to treat indigestion, stomachaches, diarrhea as well as other digestion related problems. These berries are capable of neutralizing acid in the stomach making them significant for healing gastric ulcers.
Prevention of cardiovascular diseases and strokes. Turkey berries consist of saponins, flavonoids, torvosides, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, cholorogenome, etc. which are actually powerful antioxidants that help to prevent cardiovascular disease, strokes, and cancer. The dried berries made into a powder helps to lower blood pressure and prevent heart attacks. So including fresh or dried turkey berry is extremely beneficial for dealing with cardiovascular diseases and stroke problems.
Prevention of Pains, redness, and gout. The berries help to flush out uric acid therefore helping to prevent or reduce pain, redness, and symptoms of gout. Apart from that turkey Berry Leaf consists of powerful anti-inflammatory agents and natural steroids called soasoline which is great for arthritis, lower back pain and swelling, and pain in general. Turkey Berries are very important for health since inflammation is the first step towards all diseases.
Prevention and healing of Colds and flu. Apart from its health-promoting benefits, turkey berries also help in preventing and healing colds and flu. Use the berries to prepare soup and consume frequently to overcome cold and flu symptoms.
Treatment of Phlegm and mucus. Including turkey berries in your regular diet help to get rid of phlegm and mucus. Dry the berries and make them into powder, this will dry up the mucus, helps with asthma, coughing, lung inflammation, etc.
Prevention and treatment of Kidney disease. According to Dr. Haider, research shows that the berries can also help to prevent and treat kidney disease and even reverse tubular necrosis and glomerular congestion, thus making it important for treating kidney disease.
Regulate menstruation. Frequent consumption of turkey Berries help to regulate menstruation and so help with regular menstrual periods. So anyone with menstrual problems can include turkey berry in their regular diet to solve all the associated problems.
Treatment of Anaemia. Turkey berries contain lots of iron which is extremely beneficial for treating anaemia. They encourage the production of red blood cells. Apart from that berries can also be used in soups and consumed on a regular basis to increase red blood cell production.
Prevents intestinal worms. Regular intakes of the berries help to prevent the development of worms within the intestine. Dried and powdered berries can also be added to gravies and eaten for better results.
The President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo on 31st January 2021 addressed the nation on measures to curtail the spread of the covid-19 pandemic.
In his 23rd update on the pandemic and the measures adopted to curb the spread of the virus, the President of the Republic banned some of the social gatherings including weddings, funerals, conferences, night clubs, etc. as part of ensuring covid-19 safety protocols in the country.
“Restaurants should provide take away services, and should, as much as possible, avoid seated services”, he said.
Against this safety protocol measure on restaurants, Agric Today paid a visit to some of the restaurant operators at Accra to ascertain their response to the President’s directive.
The restaurant operators expressed their dissatisfaction with the safety protocols measures by the President. According to them, last year, the lockdown collapsed their business and all their workers were sacked. “Covid-19 has really affected my business, last year, I had to lay off all my workers and thinking I could revamp my business this year, here is another restriction”, an operator decried.
“We are very much aware and conforming to the Covid-19 protocols. Mr. President should have advised us to observe the social distancing, hand washing, and other protocols strictly as said to both the churches and Ghana Football Association rather than banning people from coming to sit here to eat”, another operator at East Legon added.
The operators mentioned that people do not patronize their business as they used to do because they are scared of the pandemic and now that the President has issued a banned on social gathering including their service, then they are left with nothing than to close their business.
They urged the government to do something about the restriction to at least allow them to operate as others have been given the opportunity.
Beetroot is touted as one of the healthiest veggies. It is the taproot portion of the beet plant. It is one of the many varieties of the genus Beta vulgaris, all of which are mostly grown for their edible taproots and leaves. Apart from being used as food, beetroot is also used as a medicinal plant and a food colorant.
Right from the Middle Ages, beetroot has been used not only as food but also as a treatment for numerous conditions. It is popularly known as beet and is called Chukandar in Hindi, Remolachas in Spanish, and Hong cai tou in Chinese. Beets have been used for a long time as a treatment for anemia in Indian households.
Health Benefits of Beetroot are; May Delay Signs Of Premature Aging Beet greens contain vitamin A and carotenoids that can benefit you from inside out. They also contain a decent amount of lutein, another potent antioxidant. These fight free radicals and can play a role in human skin photoprotection. However, there is no direct research on beets delaying the signs of aging.
According to a Chinese study, sugar beet molasses has excellent antioxidant properties. The phenolic contents of sugar beet molasses demonstrate anti-aging properties.
Can Improve Skin Health If you are wondering what are beetroot benefits for the skin, here’s your answer. Beetroot ingestion has been found to prevent skin cancer. Also, beets contain vitamin A that maintains healthy mucous membranes, and improves skin health. Vitamin A also supports the daily replacement of skin cells.
Some believe that beetroot may also help purify the blood. This may promote skin health, though more research is warranted.
Beets are also good sources of vitamin C. Studies show that skin fibroblasts need vitamin C to synthesize collagen. Vitamin C also protects the skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation. Adequate vitamin C levels also minimize the formation of raised scars.
Can Be Beneficial During Pregnancy A study focused on the possibility of beets being beneficial for pregnant women, especially because of their nitrate content. However, more research is required. Beets are also rich in folic acid, which is a very good reason for pregnant mothers to include them in their diet. Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects in the baby.
May Lower Blood Pressure In a study conducted at the Queen Mary University of London, beetroot juice was found to lower blood pressure in a matter of four weeks. As per experts, this is because of the presence of nitrates, which the body converts into nitric oxide. In the process, the blood vessels expand.
Also, consuming beetroot juice regularly can prolong these good effects. Consuming as much as 250 ml of beet juice a day can have better blood pressure lowering effects than plain water with nitrates. It is also believed that the juice might have better effects than most antihypertensive drugs, although information is insufficient in this regard. Do talk to your doctor before you use the juice for blood pressure treatment.
Can Be Good For the Heart The nitrates in beets lower blood pressure. They may reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes. As per a study, just one week of regular beetroot juice dosing can improve endurance and blood pressure in older individuals at risk of heart failure.
Another American study has stated that the ingestion of beet juice prevents myocardial infarction (obstruction of blood supply to a tissue in the heart).
In rat studies, beetroot was found to improve the delivery of oxygen to the working skeletal muscles. When the working skeletal muscles don’t get enough oxygen, they are impaired and decrease one’s capacity to move one arm or legs. This results in decreased physical activity, ultimately leading to heart disease.
May Aid Cancer Prevention Beetroot extract may have the potential to prevent cancers of the breast and prostate. This can be attributed to the presence of betanin (a form of betalain) in beetroot. More studies are needed to substantiate this benefit of beetroot.
In another study conducted at the Howard University of Washington, beetroot ingestion was found to prevent lung and skin cancers.
Beetroot juice, when taken along with carrot extract, was found to aid in the treatment of leukemia. Numerous studies have supported the anticancer and chemopreventive properties of beets. In another French study, betanin was found to decrease cancer cell proliferation significantly.
Can Promote Liver Health The presence of calcium, betaine, B vitamins, iron, and antioxidants keeps beets among the best liver foods.
Beets contain pectin, a fiber that is known to help eliminate toxins. It can clear the toxins that have been removed from the liver, making sure they don’t re-enter the body. The liver also contains zinc and copper, both of which can protect the liver cells from oxidative stress. As per a Polish study, beetroot can also protect the liver from oxidative damage. Some believe that beets may also thin the bile, allowing it to easily flow through the liver and small intestine, which may enhance liver health. Research is limited in this aspect.
May Help Fight Inflammation As per an Iranian study, beetroot, especially in the juice form, was effective in treating inflammation. Another Egyptian study found that beetroot extract could treat inflammation in the kidneys.
The folate, fiber, and betalains could be responsible for beetroot’s anti-inflammatory properties.
May Promote Brain Health Beets are known to improve brain neuroplasticity by improving the oxygenation of the somatomotor cortex – the brain area that is usually affected in the early stages of dementia.
When older hypertensive adults were given a beet juice supplement (in addition to exercise), their brain connectivity began to resemble that of younger adults.
The nitrates in beets are converted into nitric oxide within our bodies. This nitric oxide allows the brain cells to communicate with each other, thereby enhancing brain health. Nitrates also improve blood flow to the brain.
Beetroot juice has also been found to prevent Alzheimer’s. As per certain studies, those who drank beetroot juice had healthier brains and improved cognitive functioning.
According to another UK study, dietary nitrate can improve cerebral blood flow, thereby enhancing brain functioning.
May Control Blood Sugar Levels This has more to do with sugar beets. According to an Iceland study, the fiber from sugar beets can reduce hyperglycemia. As per a UK study, the consumption of beetroot juice was found to suppress postprandial (after a meal) glycemia.
Aid Digestion What are the benefits of eating beets regularly? Well, regular consumption of beet or beet products has been found to improve digestion and blood quality. Some anecdotal evidence suggests that white beets can also open the obstructions of the liver and spleen, but research is limited. Red beets may be useful in treating illnesses related to the digestive system and blood.
In fact, red beets have a prominent place in history when it comes to abdominal health. It is believed that Romans used beets to treat constipation and other related ailments.
As they are rich in fiber, beets may help treat diverticulitis. It was found that populations ingesting high amounts of fiber had lower incidences of diverticulitis Fiber also aids bowel movement and enhances the overall health of the digestive system.
May Reduce Bad Cholesterol Levels In an animal study, rats fed with beet extracts saw a decrease in the total cholesterol levels and an increase in good cholesterol. Though more research is required in this aspect, the study authors believe that the phytonutrients in beets can have these beneficial properties. Beetroot is also one of those few foods that are low in calories and contain zero cholesterol (1).
May Help Treat Anemia We know the deficiency of iron causes anemia. It has been found that beets are rich in iron, and the absorption of iron is better from beetroot than a few other vegetables. Beetroot also has better iron content than beet greens. The folate in beets may also help in anemia treatment.
May Improve Sexual Health It is believed that beetroot has been used as an aphrodisiac since Roman times. Beets contain good amounts of boron. Boron is directly linked to the production of sex hormones. Beets are also relaxing. The betaine in beets relaxes your mind, and tryptophan contributes to happiness – both of which can help you get in the mood. According to a Saudi Arabian study, beetroot juice can also help treat sexual weakness.
Can Help Prevent Cataracts Beets (especially beet greens) are rich in beta-carotene that may help reduce the risk of cataracts. They also help prevent age-related macular degeneration.
Increases the Levels of Antioxidants This can be attributed to the presence of polyphenols and betalains – compounds in beetroot that offer it its antioxidant properties. As per a study, the betalain pigment in beets has potent anti-inflammatory properties. These properties help treat oxidative stress and improve cognition. The antioxidants that are abundant in beets (and their greens) may improve the body’s antioxidant status.
May Help Prevent Osteoporosis We have already seen that the nitrates in beets get converted into nitric oxide in the body. A Japanese study states that nitric oxide can help prevent certain lifestyle-related diseases, including osteoporosis.
Another reason beetroot is good for treating osteoporosis is the presence of silica. The mineral is required by the body to utilize calcium efficiently. Having a glass of beetroot juice every day can keep osteoporosis and other related ailments (like a brittle bone disease) at bay.
