Beetroot is a vibrant root vegetable known for its natural nitrates, antioxidants, folate, and other nutrients. It has become popular in wellness recipes because dietary nitrates can contribute to the production of nitric oxide, which plays an important role in blood-vessel function and circulation.
Online posts sometimes call beetroot juice “natural morphine” because of claims that it can eliminate muscle, joint, or rheumatic pain. That description is misleading. Beetroot is not a natural opioid and does not work like morphine. It may be a nutritious addition to a balanced diet, but it should not replace appropriate treatment for chronic or severe pain.
Simple Beetroot Juice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 medium fresh beetroots
- 1 apple
- 1 small piece of fresh ginger
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 1–1½ cups cold water
- A few mint leaves, optional
Step 1: Wash the ingredients
Wash the beetroot, apple, ginger, and mint thoroughly under running water.
Step 2: Prepare the beetroot
Peel the beetroots if desired and cut them into small pieces. Smaller pieces make blending easier.
Step 3: Prepare the apple
Remove the stem and seeds and cut the apple into pieces. You can leave the skin on if it has been washed thoroughly.
Step 4: Add everything to a blender
Place the beetroot, apple, ginger, lemon juice, and water into a blender.
Step 5: Blend
Blend until the mixture becomes as smooth as possible.
Step 6: Strain if desired
For a smoother juice, pour the mixture through a fine strainer. If you keep the pulp, you’ll retain more of the fiber.
Step 7: Add mint
Add a few fresh mint leaves and blend briefly, or simply use them as a garnish.
Step 8: Drink fresh
Serve immediately or refrigerate briefly before drinking.
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