Beets, those sweet, fuscia root vegetables, are not just beautiful but very nutritious. They contain healthy carbohydrates, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals like potassium and iron. They even have a little protein. But beets go the extra mile when it comes to health, and adding them to your dog’s diet can benefit him in many ways.
Not only will adding beets (a little at a time of course) provide your dog with extra nutrients and antioxidants, it may also help protect his or her liver. The liver is responsible for handling toxins, which truly add up. In this world, it’s easy to put the liver on overtime, and offering beets can help guard its safety.
A 2007 study from Semmelweis University in Hungary found beets contain compounds that protect the liver. One of these compounds is called betaine, which not only protects the liver but reduced levels of homocysteine, a substance that can lead to stroke or heart disease.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) may not be an issue for your dog, but beets can also lower blood pressure. Participants in a 2013 study with beet juice experienced a blood pressure drop of 10 mm Hg after drinking 8 ounces of beet juice. Blood pressure began to drop three hours after drinking the juice, and results were still present after 24 hours.