How many layers of products do you need to make your skin glow?
I am not into makeup.
But, at times, I like watching makeup videos. It’s mind-boggling to watch makeup-enthusiasts use 20 to 30 different types of creams and colours to paint their face. And after finishing, they are transformed into flawless beauty, sometimes unrecognizable.
Makeup is certainly a work of art, and applying it well can be beautiful.
But I prefer a minimalist approach to getting ready: I put on face oil, moisturiser and some lip balm, and I look decent.
I like to reserve my energy for cooking and eating healthy food.
And eating healthy has its perks. It will make your skin healthy and glowing from within, so you don’t need to put tons of products to bring out its beauty.
In general, you must eat a wide variety of foods to stay healthy. However, some foods give our skin and hair an extra boost. And one of them is beetroot.
If you have followed me for a while, you would know my love for beetroot. I keep talking about it every now and then. And for a good reason, beetroots are terrific foods for your health, hair and skin.
Want to know more about the beetroot benefits for hair and skin? Let’s find out…
3 Amazing Benefits of Beetroot for Your Skin and Hair
1. Beetroot has tons of Betalains
The vibrant red colour of beetroot is due to plant pigments called betalains. And these red pigments have potent antioxidant properties.
One of the causes of hair loss and greying is oxidative stress.
So, eating foods with higher antioxidant capacity can help reduce hair loss and promote healthier growth. Also, with age, your skin shows signs of ageing like dark spots, tags and wrinkles. And to counter that, foods rich in antioxidants are your best friends as they work from within to heal and repair tissues.
2. Beetroot Can Promote Liver Health
So, what does this have to do with your hair?
That’s because the liver is responsible for hundreds of functions in our body.
The liver helps with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E – which are important for the hair growth cycle.
The liver also removes toxins and harmful substances from the blood. As well as, helps to break down excess hormones, alcohol and drugs. And that is why when your liver is struggling, it can have an impact on other places of your body, including hair. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, a healthy liver will promote healthy hair growth and glowing skin.
Animal studies have shown that compounds in beetroot, especially betalains, have a protective effect on the liver. They support the liver by getting rid of harmful free radicals and reducing inflammation.
3. Nutrients in Beetroot Can Enhance Your Skin and Hair
Beetroots are a rich source of silica. The mineral is required to keep your bones and teeth healthy.
Silica also helps improve skin elasticity and hydration, making it firm and youthful. Silica does this by boosting collagen production.
And for your hair, silica makes them strong and resilient, so there is less breakage.
Apparently, it’s suggested that hair strands with higher silicon content tend to have lower falling rates and more shine and gloss.
What’s more, beetroot also contains many other essential nutrients such as, folate, iron, vitamin C, manganese and potassium.
Now that you know the many benefits of beetroot, let’s find out how to make a delicious beetroot stir fry.
How to Make Beetroot Stir fry
There are several ways to eat beetroot. Some people like to eat it boiled, some people like to eat it raw, and I like to make a stir-fry with it. It’s simple to make and tastes good. Here’s how to do it
To make this stir fry, you will need:
2 medium size beetroot
1 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon sesame seeds (you can also use sunflower seeds)
1 whole dried red chilli or 1 slit green chilli (optional)
½ teaspoon mustard seeds
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
½ teaspoon lime juice
Salt to taste
How to Make:
1. Heat oil in a pan (heat on medium).
2. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and red chilli (I break it into 2 or 3 pieces to extract more flavour), and let them sizzle for 15 to 30 seconds.
3. Add the sesame seeds and stir for a few seconds.
4. Now add the peeled and grated beetroot and salt; mix in well.
5. Reduce the flame and cook covered for about 5 to 7 minutes (stir couple of times in between)
6. Finally add lemon juice and mix well.
Serve warm or cold as a starter or as a lovely little extra alongside mains. You can also use it in wraps and sandwiches.
Variations:
- You can combine this beetroot salad with yogurt and eat as a snack – it tastes fab! (If you plan to eat it with yogurt just skip lemon juice)
- You can try using other seeds or nuts such as sunflower, pumpkin, peanuts, and pine nuts.
I like the light feeling and high energy I have after eating this energizing, cleansing salad. I’m sure you will like it too!
Do you eat beetroot? How do you eat it? Please share in the comment box below!