Beet root, powder

Beet root, powder (830)

Scientific Name: Beta vulgaris
Beta family

Common Names: Beet, red beet, table beet, garden beet

Other Languages: Spanish: remolacha. Portuguese: horticola, beterraba. French: betterave. German: rote Rube, rote Beete or Runkelrube. Italian: Barbabietola. Arabic: silig. Chinese: gen tian cai. Russian: svekla stolovaja.

Active Properties:

Beta vulgaris have been utilized for their medicinal properties since ancient times. Considered beneficial to the blood, heart, and digestive system. Known to treat skin problems, headaches and lethargy. Regarded as a laxative; a cure for bad breath, coughs and headaches; and even as an aphrodisiac. Recently regarded as a preventative for cancer - increasing immune system function. Beet root is high in many important minerals and micronutrients.
Dioscorides and Galen both refer to root of beet as a medicine

Biochemical Information: Betaine

Beta vulgaris provides a particularly rich source of betaine - a mood modifier. Betaine-rich foods pharmacologically produce the positive effect of relaxation. Betaine is utilized in treating clinical depression. Betaine(also called trimethylglycine) raises levels of the compound s-adenosylmethionine which influences serotonin metabolism.

Background:
The species Beta vulgaris L. was first described by Linnaeus in 1753. The genus Beta likely originated in Mediterranean Europe - cultivated from the wild sea beet. Beta vulgaris was initially valued for its leaves. The Greeks presented beet as one of their offerings to the sun god Apollo in the temple at Delphi. In an Assyrian text beet was grown in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the wonders of the ancient world, in around 800 BC. Beet is mentioned by Dioscorides, Aristophanes and Aristotle. The Greeks ate the leaves of Beta vulgaris and utilized them, and occasionally the roots, medicinally.

Applications:
Beta vulgaris have been utilized for their medicinal properties since ancient times. Considered beneficial to the blood (high in iron), heart, and digestive system. Regarded as a laxative; a cure for bad breath, coughs and headaches; and even as aphrodisiac. Following the Middle Ages, beetroot was used to treatment digestion, blood problems and as a decongestant. Recently beet root is regarded as a cancer preventative, strengthening to the immune system.

A remedy for indigestion, acidity, gastritis and heartburn and is known to relieve other problems of food toxicity (improper diet and incomplete digestion), including skin problems, headaches and lethargy.

Description:

The swollen root of cultivated Beta vulgaris is technically made up from both the root and the hypocotyl, which is an enlarged region at the base of the stem. The hypocotyl is an intermediate region between stem and root and accounts for the top or crown part of the root. In sugar beet, the hypocotyl typically accounts for 10% of the storage organ, while 90% is root derived. However, this proportion varies and the amount derived from hypocotyl can be higher in fodder beet and beetroot, particularly in varieties that have crowns that extend above the soil surface.

The genus probably first originated in Mediterranean Europe, was diversified and spread to the north and and east in prehistoric times. A secondary region of Beta biodiversity developed in the Near East. Annual, biennial and perennial plants occur in the genus.

Other varieties:

Today, four sections are used to classify all the plants within the genus Beta. These are Procumbentes (formerly Patellares), Nanae, Corollinae and Beta (formerly Vulgares).Within the genus Beta, these four sections include ten species and three subspecies.

Collected widely for culinary and medicinal uses.

Safety:

There are no known human health risks associated with typical consumption or topical uses of beet root or beet root powder. Betalains, the plant pigment in beets, when not processed thoroughly in the system can turn the urine a red color. Betalains are used as food coloring and in cosmetic: in ice creams and frozen desserts. Beetroot red is also used to enhance the redness of tomato paste, soups, tomato products in pizzas, sausages, ham, bacon, liquorice, fruit preparations, sauces, jams, etc. It is often used in dry powder form for beverages, sugar confectionary, biscuits and creams.

More Bulk Herbs and Spices Information:
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For educational purposes only
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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