The recipes of traditional borscht are beets and sour cream. It belongs and popular in Ukraine, that also being Eastern Europe cuisines with savory tones. The ingredients of borscht soup and how to cook it are different in every country but however, the health benefits are same as the benefit beets or you can read in health benefits beets.
Furthermore, additional vegetables for borscht soup are cabbage, potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic and tomato paste, along with beef stock.
For nutrients in borscht soup are antioxidants, vitamin B and vitamin C. The details nutrients are 1.2 grams of saturated fat and 4 grams of cholesterol per 1/2 cup, with no heart-healthy monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats. Those are based on the American Diabetes Association and also related to the benefits of borscht soup which are:
- Reduces blood pressure
For those who are having high blood pressure, eating of borscht can be a treatment of that condition which has been proven by a study published by American Heart Association Journal in 2013 with title Hypertension. Researchers from that journal found that 8 ounces of beetroot juice can reduce high blood pressure. Furthermore, other benefits are to increase blood flow and also promote blood vessels to relax.
- Protect heart and liver
According to a 2007 study from Semmelweis University’s Department of Medicine in Budapest, Hungry, it discovered that benefit of eating borscht promotes the health of the liver. A compound named betaine in borscht soup that predominately protects the liver.
Besides to protect the liver, Betaine also reduces homocysteine levels or a harmful substance that involve stroke as well as heart problems.
- Improves and protects digestive system
The other benefit of betaine is to increase stomach acids levels, which makes borscht soup is suitable for those who are with deficient stomach acid. In addition, a compound named fiber in borscht soup protect digestive system including fight the problems in stomach. Fiber, is a compound that absorbed slowly in digestive system and due to the reason, it will make stomach feel full in a longer time.
- Cleans blood
Beetroot is main ingredient in borscht soup and it provides more red blood cells and also helps the blood to be cleaned. Within that benefit, some people use borscht soup as anemia treatment. Consequently, leukemia and other cancers also can be treated by eating more healthy food made from beets.
- Reduces the risk of cancer
Cancer is a disease that can be prevented by high of antioxidants and it can be found in borscht soup. Moreover, it is due to betaine or kind of phytonutrients which have the benefits as anti-inflammatory and support for detoxification.
- Supports healthy skin
Vitamin C is a vitamin that has been known for the benefits of healthy skin or beauty and you can also read in vitamin c 1000 mg benefits. The vitamin you can find in borscht soup which the soup supports in hydrates the skin as well as prevent dry skin. In addition to vitamin C, antioxidant also plays a role to make skin healthier. But however, there has been still no strong study that proves health benefit of beets for the healthy skin.
- Helps in lose weight
Since beets as main recipe of borscht soup are less in fats, it is very suitable for those who want to lose weight. Beets, only contain 0.2 grams of fat in 100 gram of beets and it is the reason why beets or borscht soup can be used as diet treatment. Moreover, the soup you can try as substitute of rice because the benefits of beets are almost same as rice in weight loss or you can read in health benefits of rice for weight loss.
- Reduces the risk of diabetes
Almost all of the vegetables are less in glucose including for beets in borscht soup. Glucose, is one of the main reason of diabetes and you can prevent it by eating borscht soup. Diabetes is a disease that has been known can support other disease. So, consume less of sugar make you healthier or you can also read health risks of consuming too much sugar.
Some of health benefits of borscht soup you can also find in other soup or you can read in health benefits of miso soup and benefits-of-eating-bulalo-soup.