Health benefits of beetroot in baby food include availability of minerals and vitamins, digestive property, cleansing agent, Decreases the risk of anemia, protects liver and boosts immunity

1. Health benefits of beetroot for babies –http://parentinghealthybabies.com/health-benefits-
of-beetroot-for-babies/
Beetroot is a root vegetable which is known very
well for its numerous health benefits. Some of the
listed include cure for Anaemia, improvement in
digestion, hepatoprotective or liver protection, a
cleansing agent for the body and increases brain
activity and development.
Beetroot is also known by several other names like
table beet, garden beet, red beet, etc. Beetroot was
known from Greek and Roman times and it was
believed to be useful as a remedy for fevers and
blood purification.Generally, beetroot is boiled, grilled, roasted or cooked as any other
vegetable and it is also added to some salads.
It is believed that beetroot might have originated in the Middle East in Tigris. From there on
it spread to the Mediterranean region, Turkey, Iran,Europe, Russia and in parts of south east
Asia as well. After the discovery of the Americas, beetroot was also introduced to the
Americas as well, especially in South America.
Nutritional value of beets
According to the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference from the US Department
of Agriculture lists the nutrition value of beets to be
Nutritional value Value per 100 g Nutritional value Value per 100 g
Water 87.58 g Energy 43 kcal
Protein 1.61 g Total Lipid (fat) 0.17 g
Carbohydrate 9.56 g Fiber 2.8 g
Sugars 6.76 g Calcium 16 mg
Iron 0.80 mg Magnesium 23 mg
Phosphorous 40 mg Potassium 325 mg
Sodium 78 mg Zinc 0.35 mg
Vitamin C 4.9 mg Thiamin 0.031 mg
Riboflavin 0.040 mg Niacin 0.334 mg
Vitamin B-6 0.067 mg Folate 109 ug
Vitamin A 33 IU Vitamin E 0.04 mg
Vitamin K 0.2 ug

2. Can beets be introduced into the diet of infants?
Almost all vegetables can be introduced into your child’s diet soon after your baby is 6
months old. By introducing vegetables, you can make sure that your child will receive all the
nutrients that are essential for infant development. You can introduce beetroot in small
quantities (not more than 1-2 teaspoons) into your homemade baby food.
Health benefits of beetroot for babies
Feeding vegetables from an early age is perhaps one of the best steps that a mother can take
to ensure good health of her baby. Beetroot with abundance of nutrients and numerous health
benefits is a very good choice.
Availability of minerals and vitamins: The importance of minerals and vitamins in
infant diet cannot be overlooked. Judicious supply of vitamins and minerals marks the
beginning of healthy growth of your child. Beetroot being rich in minerals and
vitamins such as iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B
complex, vitamin C, vitamin K and vitamin E etc is recommended for your child. A
diet deficient of vitamins and minerals can be a cause for many diseases such as
beriberi, night blindness, rickets, osteomalacia, angular stomatitis, glossitis, diarrhoea,
etc. Feeding your child with vegetables such as beetroot can drastically decrease the
risk of developing the above mentioned diseases. ()
Decreases the risk of anemia: Risk of anemia is not only present in women but also
in infants and children. Anemia develops due to lack of iron in the body. This
deficiency is caused by iron and beetroot is a very good source of iron, especially for
children. High iron content in the body helps in producing red blood cells, supplies

3. oxygen to the various parts of the body and also has a major role in brain development
in the early months. (HK Bakhru, Foods That Heal, pp 92).
Improves digestion: Beets are also known for their digestion promoting activities.
Promoting digestion of infants is necessary. As their digestive systems are still weak,
feeding them with easily digestible foods and those foods which promote digestion. In
this way, you can improve the digestive system of your child and make him or her
healthy all the way. (HK Bakhru, Foods That Heal, pp 93)
Protects liver: Liver disorders can arise in infants and children. Some of the most
common diseases include jaundice and hepatitis. Jaundice can affect the appetite
significantly. Give not more than 2-3 teaspoons of beetroot juice can be given to the
child under such conditions. (Váliet al, 2007).
Natural cleansing agent: Try giving beetroot juice combined with carrots and
cucumber. This juice cleanses the body from the inside, especially for kidneys and
gall bladder. Give only a few tablespoons of the juice to your child first and then
increase the amount over the coming months. Add only a small piece of beetroot to
the juice. (HK Bakhru, Foods That Heal, pp 93).
Beetroot for increased brain activity: Beetroot promotes blood circulation in the
brain. Increased brain activity in the early years of development will lead to optimum
brain functioning in the later years. (HK Bakhru, Foods That Heal, pp 93).
Measures to be taken when giving beetroot to your child
Though beetroots play an important role in imparting overall health and development to your
child, one must remember that it is infants that are being fed and hence proper care must be
taken to avoid any effects.
Add very little amounts of beetroot: Beetroots have high amount of nitrates which
can be very difficult for infants to digest and hence while giving beetroots to your
child, it is important that you limit it to 1-2 teaspoons. Only after the child is 1 year
old, you can give him or her appropriate amounts of beetroot. But until them, limit its
amounts.
Give only steamed or boiled beets: If you are concerned about high nitrates, then
you give boiled or steamed beetroot. Cooking reduces nitrate content significantly.
Even when you want to give beetroot juice, steam it for few minutes before making
the juice. In this way, you can avoid nitrates and give the best to your child.
Age of the child when introducing: Remember that vegetables can be introduced
into your child’s diet once he or she is about 6 months old. By the time they reach 6
months of age, their digestive system will be strong enough to digest semi-solid
foods, boiled and steamed vegetables.
Do not introduce beets first: Introducing beets first may not be a good idea because
beets contain an earthy flavour. Your child might not like this flavour. Hence, start
with vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, etc and then introduce beets.

4. Remember the 4 day test: 4 day test is very important, especially when introducing
new foods to your child. When introducing new foods, make sure that you introduce
only one vegetable, fruit and any food item at one time. This gives you a margin to
deduce food items, if they cause any allergies to your child. This is an important
precaution that you need to take, if there are any food allergies in your family. The
risk of developing food allergies can be high when you have a history of allergies in
your family.
References
HK Bakhru, Foods That Heal, pp 92-93, Orient Paperbacks, New Delhi, India.
Váli, Stefanovits-Bányai, Szentmihályi, Fébel, Sárdi, Lugasi,Kocsis, Blázovics, 2007, Liver-
protecting effects of table beet (Beta vulgaris var. rubra) during ischemia-reperfusion
Nutrition - February, Vol. 23, Iss 2, pp 172-178. http://www.nutritionjrnl.com/article/S0899-
9007%2806%2900394-7/abstract
Website: www.parentinghealthybabies.com