Snacks are the perfect vehicle for expanding your family’s palate because they are relatively low-pressure and low-commitment. One of our primary goals is to provide wholesome snacks. What better than nutritious snacks? If you read anything about nutritious food, you would know that beetroots are a power packet of nutrition. Beets are high in vitamins, minerals, etc. If you even look at the research, you would see that they help lower blood pressure and are also anti-inflammatory. Anywhere you look at, you will find that beets are super healthy, especially because of their vibrant color. Dehydrating beets is the oldest method of preserving them.
Dehydrating beets is removing the moisture from the beetroots to prevent them from rotting or going bad. That’s why dehydration is the best way to store beets. Let us read further as to how we dehydrate beets and also make dehydrated beet chips.
Also read: 5 Quick Snacks You Can Make With Cornflakes
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How To Turn Beets Into Dehydrated Beet Chips
Dehydrating beets is easy. You can choose dehydrating beets in the oven. You can also opt for making dehydrated chips in a dehydrator. We start by washing some beetroots, then slicing them up into chips. Then we lay the sliced beets out onto dehydrator trays. Set the dehydrator to 125 degrees Fahrenheit and dry the chips for approximately 3 to 4 hours. Drying time varies depending on the thickness of the chips and the humidity level near your dehydrator.
Serve or store the dehydrated beet chips in an airtight container. This is the best way to store beets. Depending on how dried out the chips are, they are probably good for at least a few weeks.
Also read, Beetroot Juice: Significant Health Benefits & Easy Recipe To Make It Home
Let Us See What The Benefits Of Dried Beets Are.
Since dehydrating beets is not a complex job, eating dried beets is good for you.
- Dehydrated Beets are a unique source of phytonutrients called battalions. Betanin and vulgaxanthin are the two best-studied battalions from beets, and both have been shown to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support. You can see these betalain pigments in other foods. The concentration of betalains in the outer layer and the inner layer of beets gives you an unexpectedly great opportunity to boost these health benefits.
- Unlike some other food pigments, betalains undergo very steady loss from beetroot chips as the length of banching the beets is increased. The red betalain pigments in beets are far less heat stable than red anthocyanin pigments in red cabbage. For these reasons, it is recommended that we keep beet steaming times to 15 minutes or less, and roasting times not more than an hour.
- An estimated 10-15% of all adults experience beeturia (a process where the urine is reddening) after consuming beets in everyday amounts. Hence, if you experience beeturia and have any reason to suspect iron-related problems, it is recommended that you follow up with a healthcare consultant on possible issues related to iron status.
- In recent lab studies on human tumor cells, betanin pigments from dehydrated beetroots have been shown to reduce tumor cell growth through many mechanisms. These mechanisms include inhibition of pro-inflammatory enzymes (specifically, cyclooxygenase enzymes). While various researches by themselves are not proof of beets’ anti-cancer benefits, the results of these studies are encouraging researchers to look more closely than ever at the value of betanins and other betalains in dehydrated beet chips for both prevention and treatment of specific cancer types. The tumor cell types tested in these studies include tumor cells from the colon, stomach, nerve, lung, breast, prostate, and testicular tissue.
Isn’t dehydrating beets a good way to consume the beets? Yes, it is! This is because the process of dehydrating beets removes the moisture from them and prevents the growth of yeast, mold, and bacteria, etc. and helps preserve them for use.
What Is Dehydrated Beet Powder
Beets are a root vegetable – they’re very similar to turnips. When you eat beet slices in your salad, you’re eating pickled or boiled beets.
Although they don’t come up in conversations nearly as often as trendy health foods like kale, beets are chock full of vitamins and nutrients. Protein, Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Folate are different types of nutrition, and it doesn’t end there. The root vegetables of a Beetroot also contain nitrates and pigment, which provide so many amazing beetroot powder benefits. You probably already know about “bad” nitrates from foods like heavily processed meats. However, nitrates from plant sources contain antioxidants, so they turn into helpful nitric oxide, protecting the heart.
Just one teaspoon of your average beetroot powder is the equivalent of an entire beet. You can add beetroot powder to smoothies, baked goods, soups, and other recipes to provide nutrients and a subtle sweet flavor.
An average serving of beets contains anywhere from 3% to 16% of your recommended daily intake of the nutrients above. However, beetroot powder contains higher concentrations of all these incredible substances. Beetroot powder benefits mirror that of beets since it’s just the root vegetable in a highly concentrated powdered form.
7 Amazing Benefits Of Dehydrated Beets
- Could Lower Your Blood Pressure
Over 75 million Americans have high blood pressure. This puts them at risk for a wide range of severe health conditions, including heart attack and stroke. Several studies show that the nitrates in beets can help lower blood pressure because the nitric acid they create in the body helps dilate blood vessels. Other studies found that consuming beets had the most significant effect on systolic blood pressure and continued to keep numbers low for six hours. Since beets only appear to temporarily lower blood pressure, it’s essential to make them a staple in your daily diet.
- It Boosts Brain Power
It’s no secret that our brains start to deteriorate with age but have you ever wondered why? Reduced blood circulation and oxygen play a big role in age-related memory loss and degenerative conditions like dementia.
That’s why foods like beetroot powder are ideal for supporting proper brain health. The nitrates in beetroot powder stimulate blood vessels in the brain and support healthy blood and oxygen supplies. In particular, beets stimulate blood flow in the brain’s frontal lobe, which is responsible for sharp decision making. You can also go for dehydrating beets and preserve them for future use.
- Improves Athletic Performance
Athletes love beets because they’re such a tasty source of nitrates. Just like nitrates stimulate healthy blood flow to the brain, they also encourage blood flow throughout other body areas, including the respiratory system and muscles. Nitrates also support the cell’s energy source, mitochondria. If you’re interested in using beets to improve your fitness routine, treat them like a pre-workout supplement. Studies show that the nitrates’ athletic benefits in beets tend to last between two and four hours.
- They Fight Inflammation
Chronic inflammation can lead to a vast array of conditions and symptoms across your body, including acne, weight gain, infections, digestive issues, constant fatigue, and whole-body pain. One of the major beetroot powder benefits is that it helps fight inflammation thanks to its brilliant pink hue. Yep, the pigment in beetroot, betalain, can fight inflammation throughout the body. Studies have shown substances in beets to reduce pain associated with chronic inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis.
- Supports Liver Health
Your liver is responsible for some 500 different functions in your body. In a nutshell, it helps remove toxins to keep your body healthy. The betalain in beets serves as a powerful tool to help your liver detoxify itself to function more efficiently. Not only that, but betalain also encourages healthy bile production and flow throughout the small intestine to keep your liver functioning at optimal levels. The folate and iron give your liver a little extra support, too. So, choose any of the dehydrating beets methods and start consuming the beets.
- Encourage Weight Loss
Take a look at the list in the first section, and you’ll see that beets are a nutrient-dense food. You get a hefty dose of vitamin C, potassium, nitrates, and countless other minerals with minimal calories and fat. This is especially beneficial if you’re trying to lose weight. When it comes to beetroot powder, the benefits are multiplied because you get more nutrients in a highly concentrated form. Remember that just one teaspoon of beetroot powder contains the equivalent of one full beetroot.
- Can Help Erectile Dysfunction
Yes, we’re going to talk about blood flow again. The nitrates and nitric oxide in beetroot powder support healthy blood flow and oxygen to all parts of the body, which can be helpful for E.D.
So, you can opt for any method for dehydrating beets and include them in your diet.
How Much Should The Beetroot Powder Dosage Be?
Two to five teaspoons per day is a perfect amount to include in your daily routine, but if you are new to beets, in general, you can start with a lower dosage of one teaspoon. You could take half of your daily dosage in a sweet morning smoothie before an intense workout and take your second half during dinner.
Beetroot powder is easy to include in your diet because the flavor isn’t overpowering, and it gives foods a slightly sweet taste. Here are just a few ideas for boosting your diet with beetroot powder benefits.
- Smoothies
- Pancakes
- Muffins
- Hummus
- Soups
- Salad dressing
- Yogurt dips
- Chocolate cake
Thus, dehydrated beets are an overlooked superfood that doesn’t get nearly enough credit. Not only do beets pack a powerful punch of nutrients, but they also contain unique substances like nitrate and betalain from their pigment to offer a wide range of unique bonuses.
The beetroot powder or the dehydrated beet chips benefits are pretty much identical to that of regular beets, but you don’t have to consume ten beets a day to reap the rewards: add a few scoops of powder to your smoothie, and you’re good to go. This makes beetroot powder a safe and effective item to add to your daily routine.
