Beetroot – Benefits for Skin, Hair & Health

Beetroot is the edible taproot portion of the beet plant. Apart from the root, the leaves are also consumed by many due to the multiple benefits. Apart from culinary purposes, beetroots are also used as a food colouring and for medicinal reasons. 

Beetroot is widely considered a very healthy item for consumption as it contains 88% water, 10% carbohydrates, less than 1% fat, 20% daily value of folate and 16% daily value of manganese. 

Benefits of beetroot

For Skin

• Prevents wrinkles
• Treats dark circles
• Gives soft and smooth skin
• Removes pimples and acne from the skin
• Reduces pigmentation and blemishes

For Hair

• Reduces hair loss
• Treats dandruff
• Enhances hair growth
• Provides relief from itchy scalp
• Keeps hair shiny and healthy

For Health

• Improves liver function
• Fights anaemia
• Helps to reduce blood pressure
• Controls diabetes
• Reduces inflammation
• Helps to cure arthritis. 
• Helps in proper digestion

20 home remedies using beetroot

For Skin

For dry skin

• Plain

Ingredients

• 1 beetroot
• Cotton Balls
• Strainer

Method

1. Peel and slice the beetroot into small pieces
2. Blend the pieces till there are no chunks remaining.
3. With a strainer, separate the pulp from the juice.
4. Dab this juice on the face with cotton balls. 
5. Leave this on for 10 minutes and then wash it off using a mild face wash.
6. Repeat this treatment once every week and preferably at night. 

• Turmeric

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon beetroot juice
• ½ teaspoon turmeric
• ½ teaspoon milk
• 2 teaspoons of gram flour

Method

1. Put the beetroot juice in a small container
2. Add the gram flour and turmeric and mix it well.
3. After this, add the milk and again mix well.
4. Apply this mixture to the face.
5. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then wash it off with mild face wash.
6. Repeat this process once a week for the best results.

• Milk

Ingredients

• Juice of one beetroot
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 2 teaspoons milk

Method

1. Take the beetroot juice in a bowl and add the honey and milk. Mix it thoroughly.
2. Apply this mixture all over the dry skin.
3. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off with water. 
4. Apply moisturiser on the skin once dried completely. 
5. Repeat this process twice a week for the best results. 

Removes pimples and acne from skin

• Lime Juice

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of beetroot juice
• 1 teaspoon yoghurt
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 2 tablespoons gram flour

Method

1. Place the beetroot juice in a bowl.
2. Add the gram flour, yoghurt and lime juice into the juice.
3. Mix the contents to form a smooth paste.
4. Spread it evenly on the face and leave it on for 15 minutes. 
5. Rinse it off with warm water and pat dry the face.
6. Use the face pack 2 times a week for 3 weeks to get flawless skin. 

Treats wrinkles and fine lines on the skin

• Honey

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of crushed beetroot
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 cotton ball

Method

1. Take the crushed beetroot in a bowl and add honey to it. 
2. Apply this mixture on the face using a cotton ball.
3. Leave it on till it dries completely. 
4. Wash it off using cold water.
5. Repeat this method once a week for the best results. 

Natural Face Cleanser

• Yoghurt

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons yoghurt
• 3 tablespoons beetroot juice
• 2 tablespoons glycerine

Method

1. Take the beetroot juice in a bowl and add the yoghurt and glycerine to it. 
2. With a cotton ball, apply this mixture to the face. 
3. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then wash it off with normal water. 
4. Apply moisturiser. 
5. Repeat this method once in 10 days for the best results. 

For Hair

To Avoid Hair Loss and Premature Balding

• Ginger

Ingredients

• Juice of 2 beetroots
• 1 tablespoon of grated ginger juice.
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Method

1. Mix well the beetroot juice, ginger juice and olive oil in a bowl. 
2. A paste should be formed. 
3. Apply this paste from the scalp, all the way down, lengthwise, to the tip of the hair.
4. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off using a mild shampoo. 
5. Repeat this process once a week for adequate results. 

• Carrot

Ingredients

• 1 beetroot chopped into pieces
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1 cup chopped spinach
• 1 glass of water
• Coconut shavings

Method

1. Place the ingredients in a blender
2. Blend it for 4 minutes or until a smooth mixture is formed.
3. Sprinkle a few coconut shavings on top, after pouring it into a glass.
4. Repeat this drink once every alternate day.

Prevent dandruff and itchy scalp

• Plain

Ingredients

• 1 beetroot

Method

1. Cut the beetroot into 2 halves and rub these pieces on the scalp. 
2. The juice from the beetroot will begin to seep into the scalp. 
3. Leave it in for 15-20 minutes.
4. Wash it off with a mild shampoo. 
5. Repeat this process once a week for the best results. 

• Neem Water

Ingredients

• Juice of 2 beetroots
• ½ cup neem water

Method

1. Mix the beetroot juice and neem water together. 
2. Use this mixture as a hair mask and coat the hair completely with this mixture. 
3. Leave it in for half an hour. 
4. Rinse it off with a mild anti-dandruff shampoo. 
5. Repeat this process once a week to completely get rid of dandruff and itchy scalp.

Makes hair thick and strong

• Coffee

Ingredients

• Juice of 2 beetroots
• 2 teaspoons of ground coffee

Method

1. Mix the beetroot juice with the ground coffee, well. 
2. Apply this mix to the hair from root to tip. 
3. Leave it in for half an hour and then rinse it well with lukewarm water. 
4. Repeat this process once in 10 days for thick and strong hair. 

For Health

Boosts immunity

• Apples

Ingredients 

• 2 apples
• 1 large beetroot
• 1 large piece of ginger
• Ice

Method

1. Cut the beetroot and ginger into smaller pieces and put them in a juicer.
2. Cut the apples into smaller pieces and take out the seeds. 
3. Put the apple in the juicer and mix the apple juice along with the beetroot and ginger juice. 
4. Take the juice in a glass and put a thin slice of ginger in it. 
5. Put in a few pieces of ice and consume the cold drink. 
6. Repeat this drink once every week. 

• Orange

Ingredients

• 1 large beetroot
• 2 oranges
• 2 carrots
• Ice

Method

1. Put the beetroot and carrots through a juicer and extract the liquid. 
2. Squeeze in the oranges and add the juice to the drink
3. Mix this drink very well.
4. Put in a few ice cubes and consume this chilled drink.
5. Repeat this drink once every day. 

For weight loss

• Celery

Ingredients

• 6 celery stalks
• 1 small beetroot cut into cubes
• 1 cup chopped spinach
• A bunch of cilantro
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Method

1. Put all the ingredients, except the lemon juice, in a food processor.
2. Blend it for 2 minutes or till a smooth and thick shake is ready.
3. Sprinkle the lemon juice on top before consuming it. 
4. Repeat this process 2 times a week for the best results. 

• Carrot

Ingredients

• 1 small beetroot chopped into cubes
• 3 large carrots, chopped
• 1 stalk of celery

Method

1. Put all the ingredients into the food processor. 
2. Blend it for 5 minutes.
3. Sprinkle a bit of salt on top before consuming. 
4. Repeat this process 3 times a week to notice results at the earliest. 

Rich source of antioxidants

• Purple Grapes

Ingredients

• 2 cups of purple grapes
• 2 small purple plums
• 1 large beetroot
• Ice

Method

1. Peel the beetroot and push it through the juicer followed by the grapes.
2. Pour the juice into a cup and add ice as much as required.
3. Cut pieces of the plum and put these pieces into the glass. 
4. Repeat this drink every alternate day. 

• Coconut

Ingredients

• ½ pineapple
• 4 ounces of coconut pulp
• 1 large beetroot
• Ice

Method

1. Cut the pineapple into small pieces and pass it through the juicer. 
2. Pour the juice into a glass and place a few cubes of ice in it to keep it cool. 
3. Cut the beetroot into smaller pieces and put it in the juicer and add this juice to the pineapple juice. 
4. Put the coconut pulp in the juicer and add the liquid to the above mix.
5. This drink should be consumed 2 times a week for the best results. 

• Strawberries

Ingredients

• 1 cup of strawberries
• ½ cup blueberries
• 1 large beetroot
• 2 large apples
• Ice

Method

1. Cut the strawberries into small pieces and put them in the juicer along with the blueberries. 
2. Then, pass the apple and beetroot through the juicer and extract the liquid completely. 
3. Add ice and stir the drink well and consume it. 
4. Repeat the process 3 times a day for the best results. 

Helps in Digestion

• Bottle Gourd

Ingredients

• 3 medium beetroots
• 2 medium carrots
• 3 gooseberries
• 1 medium bottle gourd
• 1-inch ginger
• Pinch of black salt

Method

1. Cut the beetroots into small chunks and put them in a juicer followed by the gooseberries and carrots. 
2. Cut the bottle gourd into smaller pieces and put it in the juicer. Mix the bottle gourd juice with the beetroot, gooseberry and carrot juice.   
3. Grate the ginger and add the grated pieces to the drink. 
4. Add the pinch of black salt and stir it very well before drinking. 
5. Repeat this drink 3 times a week. 

• Kale

Ingredients

• 2 medium apples
• 1 beetroot
• 4 medium carrots
• ½ Cucumber
• 1 thumb spinach
• 1 thumb ginger
• 2 kale leaves
• 1 orange
• ½  glass water
• Pinch of salt

Method

1. Squeeze out the orange juice separately in a glass. 
2. Cut the apples, beetroots, carrots and cucumber into small pieces and pass them through the juicer to extract as much liquid as possible.
3. Blend together the spinach and kale leaves with the water. 
4. Grate the ginger and strain out the juice into the orange juice. 
5. Add the juices ie, apple-beetroot, orange and leaf juices together and mix it well. 
6. Add a pinch of salt before consuming the drink, to add flavour. 
7. Repeat this process twice a week for the best results. 

Precautions

• People with low calcium problems must refrain from using beetroot as it is found to cause low calcium in the individual.
• Beetroot can also aggravate kidney problems and thus people having kidney problems also should refrain from using it. 
• One must not consume beetroot in excess as it may be severely harmful. 

Side Effects

Some of the most common side effects of beetroot are as follows

• Rashes
• Kidney stones
• A sudden drop in blood pressure
• A sudden spike in sugar level
• Stomach upset
• Might cause harm to the liver

Myths and Facts

Consuming beetroot in any form causes bloody stools and urine.	This is not true. Since beetroot has a lot of colour on it, it tends to be rich in dark red. The pigment of beetroot is very intense and thus cannot be broken down into simpler forms by the digestive system, because of which the urine and stool appear red and may be mistaken for bloody urine and stool.
Beetroots are bitter in taste.	This is false as beetroots are quite sweet in taste. If one finds beetroots bitter, that beet may be spoilt and needs to be discarded immediately. Usually, beetroots are sweet and create a good balance of flavour when used in salads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is beetroot safe to use for pregnant women?

A: Beetroot is extremely safe for being consumed by pregnant women. In fact, women are advised by most doctors to have beetroot during pregnancy, in the form of a juice or in a salad, as it contains high levels of folic acid which helps a woman through a healthy pregnancy. Folic acid is also beneficial for the foetus as it results in having healthy skin. 

Q: Is beetroot juice good for stamina?

A: Yes. Beetroot juice is excellent for building stamina. A study was conducted wherein the subjects were asked to drink beetroot juice for 6 days and it was observed that for most of them, their stamina increased when they exercised throughout the week.