beet as medicine in thalassemia

hi :
i dont know wat is this  how it works does it work or not i dont know anything but i red in it that it is good for illness lrelated to digestive system and blood . so andy plz check it ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beets#Medicine

Medicine
The roots and leaves have medicinal uses.[2]

The Romans used beetroot as a treatment for fevers and constipation, amongst other ailments. Apicius in De re coquinaria gives five recipes for soups to be given as a laxative, three of which feature the root of beet.[5] Hippocrates advocated the use of beet leaves as binding for wounds.

Since Roman times, beetroot juice has been considered an aphrodisiac. It is a rich source of the mineral boron, which plays an important role in the production of human sex hormones. Field Marshal Montgomery is reputed to have exhorted his troops to 'take favours in the beetroot fields', a euphemism for visiting prostitutes.[6]. From the Middle Ages, beetroot was used as a treatment for a variety of conditions, especially illnesses relating to digestion and the blood. Platina recommended taking beetroot with garlic to nullify the effects of 'garlic-breath'.[7]

Today the beetroot is still championed as a universal panacea. One of the most controversial examples is the official position of the South African Health Minister on the treatment of AIDS. Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Health Minister under Thabo Mbeki, has been nicknamed 'Dr. Beetroot' for promoting beets and other vegetables over antiretroviral AIDS medicines, which she considers toxic.[8]

Research published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension on the 4th February 2008 and showed drinking 500mls of beetroot juice a day can help reduce blood pressure levels. Researchers saw a reduction in blood pressure in volunteers after just 1 hour of drinking 500mls of beetroot juice. The reduction was more pronounced after 3 to 4 hours and up 'til 24 hours after drinking the juice

Beets are a root crop with great nutritional value. They are also something my mom told a story about involving me and spitting beets back at her when I was a baby.     Apparently if they are fresh and cooked properly, they do taste good.

http://www.ezhealthydiet.com/beet-nutrition.html

Beets are delightful for their color and flavor as well as for their beet nutrition. Their juice is wonderful mixed with carrot juice and can also be used as a dye. Is there any more beautiful color than the rich fuchsia and red tones of the beet? In some countries the beet juice, betanin, is processed commercially for coloration in various products.

Marian Morash author of the Victory Garden Cookbook said this about beets, “Have you ever enjoyed the sweet pungent flavor of a baked fresh beet? Or experienced the subtle but earthy aftertaste and delicious crunch of raw beets grated into a salad? These are two of the lesser-known ways of preparing fresh beets, which don’t enjoy the popularity they deserve.”

Most people have experienced canned or pickled beets, but few people have had fresh beet experiences. Of course nutritionally fresh raw beets will always be superior to canned or even fresh cooked beets. Speaking of beet nutrition, here are some of the facts: they are high in folic acid (great for pregnant women), potassium, calcium and antioxidants (betacyanin, which is what gives beets their rich red color.).

Now the beets we are talking about so far are the beet roots, the portion that grows below the ground. However, leafy beet greens are also very nutritious and can be used for juicing, or cooking as you would any other green. In fact the beet tops are more nutritious than the roots. The greens contain significantly more iron, vitamin A, potassium and calcium than the roots.

Ok, here’s some more about beet nutrition. Beet juice is rich in natural sugar, sodium, sulphur, chlorine, iodine, copper and vitamin B1, B2, C and bioflavonoids. Some holistic practitioners believe that beet juice combined with other juices like carrot and cucumber are excellent for cleansing the kidneys and gallbladder and for restoring health to these organs. Additionally, beet, being a fibrous root, is excellent for aiding in and eliminating constipation. The fiber adds bulk to the diet and therefore helps to improve peristalsis activity in the large intestine.

One cup of beet greens has about 1 mg iron so it doesn't seem that it is anything to be avoided due to iron content, as a cup is a large amount.

hi andy :
my question is that it has the benefits for thal  ...does it help to increase hb or any other thing benfitial to thal ??.

I highlighted its nutrients in bold. These are significant for thals but I won't say it increases Hb. Folic acid, calcium, potassium, vitamin A and antioxidant properties are all things beneficial to thals.

oh ops.. sorry didn't understand last time 
thanx for clearing it .. thanx andy

i think this thread should be moved to the board name  " Diet, Nutrition and supplements "  . i think, it is the best place for threads like these . wat do you say Andy ??...

Hi Buddies ,
something  i want to share uder this topic is here ..

A quote From : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beets#Red.2Fpurple_colouring

Red/purple colouring
The colour of red/purple beetroot is due to a variety of betalain pigments, unlike most other red plants, such as red cabbage, which contain anthocyanin pigments. The composition of different betalain pigments can vary, giving breeds of beetroot which are yellow or other colors in addition to the familiar deep red.[15] Some of the betalains in beets are betanin, isobetanin, probetanin, and neobetanin (the red to violet ones are known collectively as betacyanin).[bgcolor=#fff500] Other pigments contained in beet are indicaxanthin and vulgaxanthins (yellow to orange pigments known as betaxanthins). Indicaxanthin has been shown as a powerful protective antioxidant for thalassemia, as well as prevents the breakdown of alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E).[/bgcolor]

Betacyanin in beetroot may cause red urine in some people who are unable to break it down. This is called beeturia. [16]

The pigments are contained in cell vacuoles. Beetroot cells are quite unstable and will 'leak' when cut, heated, or when in contact with air or sunlight. This is why red beetroots leave a purple stain. Leaving the skin on when cooking, however, will maintain the integrity of the cells and therefore minimise leakage

Best Regards
Take Care

quote from : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16984002

Cytoprotective effects of the antioxidant phytochemical indicaxanthin in beta-thalassemia red blood cells.

Tesoriere L, Allegra M, Butera D, Gentile C, Livrea MA.
Dipartimento Farmacochimico Tossicologico e Biologico, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, Palermo 90128, Italy. mal96@unipa.it

Antioxidant phytochemicals are investigated as novel treatments for supportive therapy in beta-thalassemia. The dietary indicaxanthin was assessed for its protective effects on human beta-thalassemic RBCs submitted in vitro to oxidative haemolysis by cumene hydroperoxide. Indicaxanthin at 1.0-10 microM enhanced the resistance to haemolysis dose-dependently. In addition, it prevented lipid and haemoglobin (Hb) oxidation, and retarded vitamin E and GSH depletion. After ex vivo spiking of blood from thalassemia patients with indicaxanthin, the phytochemical was recovered in the soluble cell compartment of the RBCs. A spectrophotometric study showed that indicaxanthin can reduce perferryl-Hb generated in solution from met-Hb and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), more effectively than either Trolox or vitamin C. Collectively our results demonstrate that indicaxanthin can be incorporated into the redox machinery of beta-thalassemic RBC and defend the cell from oxidation, possibly interfering with perferryl-Hb, a reactive intermediate in the hydroperoxide-dependent Hb degradation. Opportunities of therapeutic interest for beta-thalassemia may be considered.

PMID: 16984002 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Take Care
Umair

Thank you for the info Umair.  Good work.

Sharmin

Thank you Sharmin Sis   

Andy ,
i want to ask that ; is beet root a rich iron food and should i have to avoid it .?? i red at many places that its rich in iron  but on other hand i red that its good for thals bcoze it has strong anti-oxidant properties and many mineral in it .. soo wat is your say ?? please shed some light on it ..

Umair

Umair,

I am sure that Andy will clarify but meat has heme iron which poses the greatest threat to thals, as well as "enriched" foods like certain breads and cereals.  Fruits and vegetables, even those considered high in iron do not pose the same risk as the iron they contain is less likely to be absorbed.  The benefits that beets and other fruits and veges far outweigh the small amount of iron you are likely to absorb from them.  Be sure to get a good assortment of fruits and veges - it is good for your thalassemia and if they can be good for your diabetes too.  Eating every 2 hours - which includes having fruits or veges between meals will keep your blood sugar balanced and provide you with antioxidants necessary in combating harm from iron.

Sharmin

100 grams of boiled beets contains less than 1 mg iron. It's not a significant amount. Now eat your beets! 

Andy & Sharmin ,
Thanx Buddies  , now i got it , n i will contineu to have 100mg of boiled beets in my diet between the meals .... thank you for repies . 

Take Care
Umair

Umair,

Make sure you have apples and pears too - they are also good for thals and daibetics alike:)  Natural foods fight inflammation (also if you are eating natural foods you are less likely to be eating foods that cause inflammation) which will protect you from the negative effects of thal and diabetes.  I have been meaning to break down an article that I have posted on all of this for a while - that will be my project for the new year:)

Sharmin