Beetroot brief description. Characteristics of beets

Views: 1169

19.10.2018

(lat. Beta vulgaris, Amaranth family) is one of the most important vegetable crops. It is a biennial (less often perennial) herbaceous plant from 0.2 to 1.2 m in height with a rosette of long-petioled, oblong-oval or oval-heart-shaped leaves, colored in shades of green and purple. Flowering occurs only in the second year of the plant’s life, in July–August. On stems-peduncles 0.5 - 1.25 m high, with small alternate lanceolate leaves, paniculate inflorescences of axillary, bisexual, greenish-colored flowers are formed. They are pollinated by small insects and wind. The fruits ripen at the end of August - September and are single-seeded capsules fused into glomeruli (2 - 6 pcs.).

Since the beginning of historical times, beets have been a valuable food product in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Wild forms of the plant are still common today on the coasts of Western Europe, the Mediterranean, Western Asia and India. Remains of beetroot were discovered during archaeological excavations at a Neolithic coastal settlement in northern Holland. At that time, only juicy petioles and leaves of beets were used for food, since the root was very dry and hard. The culture was known in Ancient Greece: Aristotle’s description of red beets has been preserved. In Ancient Rome, the plant was used more for medicinal purposes. Black and white varieties of beets were grown, which can be called the early predecessors of modern culture.

A large varietal diversity of root beet varieties appeared only after the 16th century, and common beet firmly gained its position as a valuable vegetable crop. Thanks to the discovery of the German chemist Marggraf (1747), which confirmed the identity of sugar crystals (sucrose) of sugar cane and beets, targeted breeding work began to be carried out to obtain a crop with a higher content of sucrose - beets sugar . Also, since 1750, special varieties of plants with yellow and fleshy roots, bred in the Rhineland, were identified as a subspecies as fodder beet. In 1753, the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus first classified the plant.

Most cultivated subspecies ( table beets or vegetable, sugar beet, fodder beet) form a fleshy root of a cylindrical, round or spindle-shaped form. They are grown in favorable climatic zones almost all over the world. The plant grows and develops best in a cool climate, at a temperature of +15...19° S. (chard) can also live in hotter areas. Beetroot is a light-loving plant that does not tolerate negative temperatures (seedlings die at – 4° WITH). Prefers pH-neutral or slightly alkaline, loose soil rich in nutrients, especially nitrogen. Requires sufficient amounts of sodium and boron. It can withstand long dry periods and is also salt-tolerant - it can grow and develop in saline areas.

Sugar beet has the greatest economic importance among all varieties of crops. Sucrose obtained from its root crops accounts for more than 20% of global sugar production, and by-products of processing are used in the production of yeast, vinegar, and also in pharmaceuticals (as a component in antibiotics).

Table beets, distinguished by the red, pink, purple, violet color of the root vegetables, are very popular in many cuisines around the world. It can be boiled, fried, stewed, baked, pickled, salted, fermented, dried. All parts of the plant are used for food: leaves, petioles, roots. In addition to beneficial nutritional qualities, beets have very valuable dietary and healing properties. This is explained by its unique biochemical composition.

Raw root vegetables contain 88% water. They also include carbohydrates (10%), proteins (2%), fats (less than 1%). The calorie content of the product (100 g) does not exceed 43 kcal. Beets are rich in folic acid and manganese. It also contains macro- and microelements (potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, boron, vanadium, zinc, iodine), ascorbic acid, beta-carotene and B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, B 6, folate), P, PP, organic acids, dyes (anthocyanins), etc. The amount of ascorbic acid, beta-carotene and folic acid in beet leaves is greater than in root vegetables.

Substance contained in beets betaine well known in traditional and folk medicine for its hepatoprotective and metabolic effects. Along with folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12, betaine strengthens the walls of blood vessels. It has a protective effect against atherosclerosis, hypertension, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Betaine has a positive effect on metabolism in the body and increases productivity. Research in recent years has confirmed the oncoprotective effect of betaine, and the possibilities of its use for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease are being studied.

In folk medicine, beets have long been used to treat peptic ulcers, remove toxins and relieve constipation. It improves blood composition, helps get rid of chronic inflammation of the nasal and frontal cavities, and normalizes microflora in the gastrointestinal tract. Thanks to the iodine contained in beets, the plant is indicated in the diet for those who have thyroid diseases.

Along with many useful qualities, beets also have a number of limitations in use. It should not be used if you have diabetes, allergic reactions, or in case of individual intolerance. In case of low blood pressure, kidney stones or kidney failure, it is necessary to limit or completely avoid the product.

Growing beets in homestead, summer cottage, and garden plots is not particularly difficult. The site should be selected in a sunny place, protected from cold winds, with a low level of groundwater. It is important that by the time of sowing the seeds the soil is well moistened, and its temperature at a depth of 10 - 12 cm is about +8...10 C. The best predecessors for beets are cabbage, onions, cucumbers, carrots, zucchini, nightshades (tomato, eggplants, peppers, potatoes) and legumes (peas, beans).

You can sow beets both in spring (late April - May) and in autumn (late October - November). When sowing in spring, the seeds are placed in shallow grooves located at a distance of 20–25 cm from each other, to a depth of 3–4 cm and sprinkled with soil on top. To speed up germination, they resort to pre-treatment of seed material with growth stimulants. Emergence of seedlings at temperatures below +8° C can be expected within three weeks. Seeds germinate much faster at +10° C – in a week. Care at this time consists of watering, loosening and weeding between rows.

In addition to the seed method of growing beets, seedlings are also used. Plants removed after thinning the seedlings can be used as seedlings. Weeding of seedlings is carried out twice: in the phase of appearance of two true leaves, leaving stronger plants every 3 - 4 cm, and after the formation of four or five leaves - leaving a distance of up to 8 - 15 cm between plants, depending on the variety.

During the period of leaf rosette development and in the second half of summer, it is necessary to regularly fertilize the crops. At a very early stage of development, beets need a sufficient amount of nitrogen fertilizers, and with the beginning of the formation of the root crop, the crop should be provided with potassium. The need for phosphorus remains in beets throughout the entire growing season.

For the first feeding, the approximate consumption rate of nutrients per 1 m2 is: 25 g of nitrogen, 20 g of phosphorus, 15 g of potassium. The next one is carried out in the second half of summer, using per 1 m2: 15 g of nitrogen, 20 g of phosphorus, 30 g of potassium. Very great importance In successful development, plants have timely watering during seed germination, rooting of seedlings and formation of root crops. For every square meter of sown area, at least 2 - 3 buckets of water are required.

From the best varieties table beets can be called: mid-season varieties “Mulatka”, “Negro”, “Smuglyanka”, “Bordeaux” and “Borschevaya”; early ripening varieties “Bohemia” (does not require thinning), “Vinaigret marmalade”, “Red ball”; very early ripening variety “Libero” (ripening period 80 days); mid-late varieties “Detroit”, “Egyptian flat”. Also interesting is the high-yielding mid-season variety “Forono” with cylindrical root crops (Syngenta company).

Beets are harvested in the phase of technical ripeness of root crops. To ensure the safety of the crop, harvesting is carried out in dry weather. After removing the tops, the root crops are dried under a canopy or in an open space (under favorable climatic conditions), and then stored in cool, well-ventilatedin the premises.

Beta vulgaris
Taxon: family Amaranthaceae ( Amaranthaceae)
Other names: sugar beet, fodder beet, chard, beetroot, beetroot
English: Sugar Beet, Swiss Chard

Description

Biennial garden plant. Previously, the species belonged to the goosefoot family. In the first year, beets develop a standing rosette of large petiolate elongated elliptical leaves and a fleshy root (root crop) with juicy burgundy-red pulp. In the second year, a branched stem with leaves and flowers develops from the root crop. The flowers are inconspicuous - green or whitish, five-membered, with a simple perianth, arranged in bunches of 2-5. The fruits are single-seeded nuts. It blooms in June-August, beet roots ripen in August-September.
There are also wild species: creeping beet ( Beta procumbens), large root beet ( Beta macrorhiza), beetroot ( Beta lomatogona), intermediate beet ( Beta intermedia), three-column beet ( Beta trigyna), sea beet ( Beta maritima), spreading beet ( Beta patula) and etc.
The wild form has a thin root and is an annual plant; the cultivated form has a fleshy, thick root and is a biennial plant.

Beet subspecies:
Sugar beet It has an elongated root vegetable with white pulp, rich in sugar (up to 23%).
Fodder beet has a large (up to 10-12 kg) root crop of various shapes, is used as succulent feed, the leaves are also ensiled.
Beetroot forms a root crop weighing 0.4-0.9 kg. Due to its rich taste, beets are widely used in the cuisines of many peoples around the world. The leaves are used to make salads, the rhizomes are used for salads, soups, snacks, drinks (including kvass) and even desserts.
Chard- a herbaceous plant; unlike beets, the leaves and stems are edible, not the rhizome.

Spreading

Beetroot was known in cultivation for many centuries BC, and is currently cultivated everywhere as a valuable fodder, food and sugar crop.

Blank

Root vegetables and beet leaves are used for medicinal purposes.

Chemical composition of beets

Beet roots contain proteins, fiber, sugars (8-20%), fats, vitamins B1, B2, C, P, PP, folic acid, provitamin A - carotene, alkaloid-like substance betaine, organic acids (citric, malic), many trace elements (iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iodine, etc.), coloring matter.
Additional information about the chemical composition, nutritional and energy value and.

Pharmacological properties of beets

Fiber and organic acids contained in beets stimulate gastric secretion and intestinal motility, which helps with spastic colitis. The combination of a large number of various vitamins with iron stimulates hematopoietic processes, so consuming beets is useful for anemia, and accompanying cardiovascular disorders, and aging.
Beets are actively used in diets in the treatment of hypertension, scurvy, diabetes, and kidney stones. Fresh juice is especially effective for use.

The use of beets in medicine

The healing properties of beets have been known since ancient times; initially, the root was used only as medicine. The rich content of natural antioxidants allows the use of beets for the prevention of cancer, B vitamins and iron - for the prevention and treatment of anemia, zinc and phosphorus - for the prevention of rickets in children. Natural antiseptics contained in the rhizome can suppress and even treat some infectious diseases, prevent the development of gastric and intestinal pathogenic microflora, cleanse the oral cavity, and improve the condition of the skin microflora.
In folk medicine, beet juice is used as a sedative and for liver diseases. Beetroot is recommended for use against scurvy; the leaves of the plant are also used for the same purpose.
Salads made from boiled beets are recommended for spastic constipation, especially in old age, and with liver diseases.

Medicinal preparations of beets

Boiled beets help, you should eat 100-150 g on an empty stomach.
For hypertension, a mixture of beet juice and honey in equal parts is recommended. Use 1 tbsp. l. 4-5 times a day.
When treating a runny nose, a mixture of 2.5 tsp gives good results. raw beet juice and 1 tsp. honey The resulting mixture is instilled into each nostril 4-5 times a day, 5 drops. For young children, it is better to instill boiled beet juice without honey.
It is recommended to put cotton wool soaked in beetroot juice in your ears, and to place a piece of raw beetroot on the sore tooth.
Beet leaves, if boiled, help with burns, and in the form of an ointment with honey they treat lichens.
A fresh cut of rhizome or crushed beet leaves are used to heal wounds.

Photographs and illustrations

Beetroot - Beta vulgaris L. - is a biennial cross-pollinated herbaceous plant from the goosefoot family. In the first year, it develops a rosette of large, long-petiolate, ovoid leaves and a fleshy root - a root vegetable. Depending on the variety, root crops have different shapes: from turnip-shaped to elongated-conical. The pulp is dense, sweet, juicy, with a dark purple or red-violet hue, with light or pink-red rings on the cut.

In the second year, a powerful, erect, herbaceous, leafy, branched, flowering stem develops from the planted root crop, becoming woody as the seeds ripen. The basal leaves are petiolate, entire, heart-ovate; stem - alternate, small, oblong or lanceolate, with a sharp apex. At the top of the stem and branches there are numerous flowers, collected in paniculate inflorescences, consisting of long leafy spikelets, in which the flowers sit in bunches of two to five. The flowers are small, inconspicuous, green or whitish, bisexual, five-membered, with a simple perianth. The fruits are single-seeded nuts, growing together in groups of two to six when ripe, and together with the remaining pericarps and bracts forming infructescences - glomeruli. It blooms in July - August, the fruits ripen in August - September.

Beetroot is still found in the wild in Iran, India, China, and on the coasts of the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas. 2 thousand years BC, wild beets began to be cultivated in ancient Assyria, Babylon, and Ancient Persia and used as a medicinal plant for various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and, much less often, as a leaf vegetable, since it was considered a symbol of quarrels and gossip. In Ancient Greece, this plant also enjoyed disrepute. Relatives and friends, wanting to make fun of the quarreling spouses, sent them beets as gifts, and at the entrance to their home the neighbors hung a wreath woven from beet leaves. Ancient Rome also adhered to this symbolism, but this did not stop the Romans from including beet roots among their favorite foods. The Roman Emperor Tiberius ordered the barbarians conquered by Rome to grow beets and supply them as tribute. Among the ancient Germans, in addition, this vegetable played an unusual role in wedding ceremonies. If the bride's parents presented the groom with boiled beets on a platter, this meant a decisive refusal. During the Middle Ages, beets were widely and universally cultivated on the European continent.

Beetroot was brought to the Slavs in the 10th century from Byzantium, and already in the 16th century vegetable dishes prepared from the leaves and roots of this plant were very popular in Rus'. Currently, in the USSR, beets are widespread from the subtropics to the Far North. Based on the nature of the use of root crops, beet varieties are divided into three groups: table, sugar and fodder. Since 1935, the Soviet Union has firmly occupied first place in the world in terms of sugar beet cultivation and gross beet sugar production. In advanced farms, its yield exceeds 500 centners per hectare.

Beetroot is widely cultivated in fields and gardens as a food plant. Soviet breeders have developed drought-resistant, cold-resistant and salt-resistant varieties of table beets, which do not lose their beneficial properties during storage. taste qualities. The most widely zoned varieties in our country are: Bordeaux 237, Gribovskaya flat A-473, Egyptian flat, Kamuoliai, Leningradskaya rounded 221/17, Incomparable A-463, Odnorostkovaya Gribovskaya, Podzimnyaya A-474, Polar flat K-249, Pushkinskaya flat K-18, Northern ball K-250, Siberian flat, Cold-resistant 19, Erfurt.

The plant is demanding on soils and the best for it are: loamy, sandy loam, rich in humus, slightly acidic or neutral, with a deep arable layer. Beets are sown after carrots (seed placement depth is 2.5-4 cm depending on the soil) while there is still enough moisture in the soil. Released beet varieties do not form flowering plants when sowed early, and the yield of root crops is much higher when sowed early. For faster emergence of seedlings, the seeds are usually soaked in water for one and a half to two days, and after sowing the soil is rolled. Weeding is carried out as they appear. The first thinning of seedlings is carried out when the beets have 1-2 true leaves. To form standard root crops, a distance of 8-10 cm is left between plants. During the period of beet growth, the rows are loosened, watered, and fertilized with fertilizers. Root crops are harvested at the end of August - the first half of September before the onset of autumn frosts, since a significant part of the root crop protruding from the soil can be damaged by them, and frozen beets are unsuitable for long-term storage. Healthy standard root vegetables with a diameter of up to 10 cm are placed in basements or cellars for storage. They are stored at a temperature of + 1-2°C, stacked and sprinkled with sand. Beet roots have good shelf life, which ensures their year-round consumption.

Characteristics of biological additives

Beet roots contain 8-12% carbohydrates (including up to 9% sucrose, as well as starch, glucose, fructose), 1.7% protein, 1.2% pectin, 0.9% fiber, 1% ash, up to 0.1% organic acids (citric, malic, oxalic, etc.), dyes, nitrogen-containing compounds (betaine, hypaphorin, hypoxanthine, xanine, etc.), vitamins (carotene - 0.011 mg%, B1 - 0.022 mg%, B2 -0.042 mg%, C -20 mg%, PP -0.23 mg%, P - 40 mg%, biotype, pantothenic and folic acids), amino acids (arginine, aspartic acid, valine, histidine, glutamic acid, lysine and etc.), triterpene saponins, minerals (potassium - from 288 to 336 mg%, calcium - 37 mg%, phosphorus - from 26 to 43 mg%, sodium - from 17 to 86 mg%, magnesium - from 8 to 22 mg %, iron - 1.4 mg%, trace elements (iodine - up to 8 mg%, manganese - 0.64 mg%, zinc - 0.9 mg%, strontium - 0.36 mg%, copper - 0.12 mg%, chromium - 0.03 mg%, molybdenum, nickel, arsenic and fluorine - 0.02 mg% each, cobalt -0.004 mg%.) Flavonoid glycosides, anthocyanin substances, vitamins, proteins, mono- and disaccharides, minerals were found in beet leaves substances, betaine.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

Under natural conditions, it is found in the form of ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid and ascorbigen, which have vitamin activity. The human body does not synthesize these substances. With prolonged consumption of only cooked animal products, a person runs the risk of developing scurvy. This disease was especially rampant in the 15th-18th centuries during the era of great geographical discoveries, as well as during the years of Arctic exploration. This is how Arctic veteran Pinegin describes the last days of the life of the brave explorer of the North, Georgy Sedov, who died of scurvy, in the book “Notes of a Polar Explorer”: “Either lying down next to him to warm the leader, now rubbing his cold, swollen feet, covered with blue spots, the sailors toiled for four days. and four nights without sleep. In recent days, Sedov has not eaten or drunk anything.”

The effect of vitamin C on the body is very diverse. It takes part in some redox processes and the metabolism of nucleic acids, influences the metabolism of carbohydrates by influencing the hormones of the adrenal glands and pancreas, activates many enzymes, participates in the synthesis of the most important connective tissue protein collagen in the endothelial wall of blood vessels, increases the elasticity and strength of blood vessel walls vessels, provides a stimulating effect on the process of hematopoiesis and the production of full-fledged red blood cells, affects cholesterol metabolism, reducing its content in the blood and preventing deposition on the walls of blood vessels, promotes the fixation of glycogen in the liver and the normal functioning of the gonads and adrenal glands, stimulates the formation of steroid hormones of the adrenal cortex and thyroid gland, antibodies, absorption of glucose from the intestines, secretion of the pancreas and bile, accelerates tissue regeneration processes. for bone fractures, wounds and burns, exhibits antitoxic properties against a number of potent drugs and industrial poisons, increases resistance to infectious diseases and improves the general condition of the body.

Hypovitaminosis C is the most common form of vitamin deficiency. Its main signs are: general weakness, rapid fatigue, decreased physical and mental performance, apathy, poor appetite, decreased body resistance to cold, susceptibility to upper respiratory tract diseases and acute respiratory viral infections, impaired cardiac activity, then pinpoint hemorrhages appear on the skin of the lower leg. and thighs, the gums loosen and even with a slight mechanical impact bleed, the skin becomes rough and rough.

The main natural sources of vitamin C in human nutrition are plant products, especially green parts of plants, and among vegetables - cabbage and potatoes. The daily requirement of an adult for ascorbic acid is 70-100 mg, children under 1 year - 30 mg, from 1 to 6 years - 40 mg, from 6 to 12 years - 50 mg, from 12 years and older - 70 mg. Women require much more vitamin C during pregnancy and breastfeeding (up to 120 mg per day), as well as in patients with thyrotoxicosis and infectious diseases. When performing heavy physical work and great mental stress in cold or hot climates, the need for vitamin C is up to 150 mg per day, and when working in hot shops or hazardous chemical industries, it increases by 1.5-2 times.

Vitamin P (bioflavonoids).

A group of substances (their number has now reached 150) with P-vitamin activity, the main role of which is to strengthen the capillaries and reduce the permeability of the vascular wall. Currently, the following bioflavonoids are most often used in medicine: rutin - obtained from the leaves and flowers of buckwheat, as well as from the flower buds of Sophora japonica, catechins - from green tea leaves, hesperidin - from citrus fruits, anthocyanins - from beetroot, chokeberry , cherries, grape skins. Vitamin P preparations are used as a capillary-strengthening agent for hemorrhagic diathesis, capillary toxicosis, hemorrhages in the retina, allergic diseases, infectious diseases (measles, scarlet fever, typhus, influenza), glomerulonephritis, arachnoiditis, hypertension, rheumatism, septic endocarditis, thrombopenic purpura, radiation diseases, to reduce the side effects of salicylates and anticoagulants. Vitamin P has a positive effect on digestion, liver and gallbladder function, activity circulatory system, together with ascorbic acid, has the ability to activate oxidative processes in tissues, stimulates the reduction of dehydroascorbic acid into highly active ascorbic acid, thereby significantly increasing the content of vitamin C in the body.

The estimated daily requirement of a healthy adult for vitamin P is 25-35 mg. The highest content of bioflavonoids is in the following vegetables: sweet red pepper, sorrel, leaf parsley, leaf celery, carrots, beets, white cabbage.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine). Normalizes the activity of the nervous and muscular system, improves metabolism in various pathological processes (with abundant consumption of food rich in easily digestible carbohydrates, and with a sedentary lifestyle, insufficient intake of this vitamin in the body leads to obesity), has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system, has positive effect on the function of the digestive organs (improves the activity and secretory function of the intestine, increases the acidity of gastric juice, stimulates the production of acetylcholine, which increases the tone of the smooth muscles of the intestine, promoting its contractile activity), participates in the synthesis of nucleic and fatty acids, phosphatides, sterols and a number of hormones .

If there is insufficient amount of vitamin B1 in food, fatigue, weakness in the legs, apathy, loss of appetite, persistent constipation, shortness of breath, tachycardia appear; Sensitivity to cold increases, the process of breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates is disrupted, and excess amounts of lactic and pyruvic acid accumulate in tissues.

For medicinal purposes, thiamine preparations are prescribed for the initial manifestations of hypovitaminosis B1, as well as for neuritis, radiculitis, neuralgia, peripheral paralysis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, intestinal atony, liver diseases, myocardial dystrophy, endarteritis, neurogenic dermatoses, eczema, various itching origin, pyoderma, psoriasis.

The daily requirement of an adult for vitamin B is about 2 mg, and with heavy physical activity and in extreme conditions, as well as with a large amount of carbohydrates in the diet, the need for it increases slightly. The main sources of vitamin B are grain products that are not freed from the germ and membranes, as well as yeast and liver. Vegetables contain thiamine: red sweet pepper, green peas, sorrel, potatoes, onions, carrots, cauliflower, tomatoes, beans, soybeans.

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin).

In humans, riboflavin can be synthesized by intestinal microflora. The most important property of this vitamin is its participation in the growth processes of the body, in connection with which it is necessary for children in early and early childhood. adolescence. Vitamin B2 is involved in metabolism, normalizes vision, is one of the important components in the process of hematopoiesis, the synthesis of proteins and fats, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and liver, serves as an integral structural part of flavoproteins necessary for the normal function of life-supporting systems and the body as a whole. Vitamin B2 preparations are prescribed for the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular and endocrine systems, skin and infectious diseases.

The human body's need for riboflavin is on average 2.5 mg per day. With hypovitaminosis - B2, loss of appetite occurs, performance decreases, anemia, headaches and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, lips, tongue (stomatitis, glossitis), eyelids and cornea (conjunctivitis, photophobia) occur. Riboflavin is found in tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, green peas, beans, sweet peppers, sorrel, and buckwheat.

Vitamin PP (nicotinic acid, niacin).

Takes part in redox processes, enzymatic reactions, has a regulating effect on the secretory and motor functions of the stomach, increases the digestibility of plant proteins, and stimulates cardiac activity. The daily requirement of an adult for nicotinic acid is 15-20 mg, and with heavy physical and excessive neuro-emotional stress it should be increased to 20-25 mg. With a lack of vitamin PP, appetite and memory deteriorate, nausea, pain in the stomach, diarrhea, severe weakness appear, and later, in combination with poor protein nutrition and a lack of vitamins B5 B2, B6 in the diet, pellagra may develop, the main symptoms of which are: rough skin, dark brown pigment spots, severe disorders of the digestive system (persistent diarrhea, lack of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice, bright red lacquered tongue, physical exhaustion) and the central nervous system, up to the occurrence of serious mental disorders (delirium, loss memory, dementia). Nicotinic acid and nicotinic acid amide are used in medicine in the treatment of atherosclerosis, skin and eye diseases, diabetes mellitus, gastric and duodenal ulcers, diseases of the respiratory system and nervous system.

Vitamin PP enters the human body from three sources: it is partially synthesized in tissues from the essential amino acid tryptophan, it is produced significantly less by intestinal bacteria, and mainly comes from food products of plant and animal origin. Buckwheat and barley cereals, peas, beans, soybeans, lentils, red peppers, potatoes, rowan fruits, white cabbage, wheat bread, and cereal bran are especially rich in nicotinic acid.

Vitamin H (biotin).

Participates in metabolism, including the synthesis of nucleic and fatty acids, has a regulatory effect on the activity of the nervous system, but primarily plays a special positive role in the metabolic processes of human skin.

For an adult, approximately 0.15-0.3 mg of biotin per day is sufficient, although there is practically no deficiency of this vitamin in adults, since it comes with food and is partially created through biosynthesis by intestinal microflora. In young children, biotin deficiency manifests itself as skin inflammation with peeling and ashy pigmentation on the neck, arms and legs. Children become inactive, their appetite disappears, their tongue becomes inflamed, nausea appears, skin sensitivity increases, the number of red blood cells and the concentration of hemoglobin in them decrease.

Microelements are biological catalysts of metabolic processes in plants, animals and humans. Microelements are included in the tissues and organs of living organisms in the form of enzymes and their content is calculated in milligrams or even fractions of a milligram.

The greatest contribution to the study of the role of microelements in biological systems was made by Russian and Soviet scientists - academicians V. A. Vernadsky and A. P. Vinogradov, as well as their students and followers - V. V. Kovalsky, P. A. Vlasyuk, G. A. Babenko, A. I. Venchikov and others. They proved that without trace elements the normal life of humans, animals and plants is impossible, that in each biogeochemical province living organisms are characterized by a certain composition of chemical elements.

It has been established that human tissues and organs contain more than 70 microelements, many of which play an important role in enzyme systems. The absence, deficiency or excess of even one microelement in food can cause disruption of body functions and lead to serious illnesses. It has now been established that microelement metabolism disorders play a certain role in the occurrence of a number of diseases with unclear etiology (toxicosis of pregnancy, fetal deformities, metabolic diseases, eczema, malignant tumors, diseases of the endocrine system, diseases of the blood and hematopoietic organs, etc.). For example, with hypertension and liver diseases, the cobalt content in the patient’s body decreases, and with atherosclerosis - vanadium and zinc; with stomach and duodenal ulcers, the iron and cobalt content sharply decreases, but the zinc content increases, and with stomach cancer the picture is the opposite; with eczema, the content of silicon and titanium decreases, and with pulmonary tuberculosis - copper; in some infectious diseases, the iron content in the blood decreases by 1.5-2 times, and copper increases accordingly.

Microelements are part of more than 100 enzymes that have a catalytic effect on many biochemical processes occurring in the body: they stimulate metabolism, normalize hematopoiesis, growth and reproduction, regulate redox reactions, participate in the metabolism of vitamins, increase the body’s protective functions, etc. d.

The main sources of microelements for humans are vegetables, fruits, and medicinal plants, which absorb chemical elements from soil and water and often accumulate them in significant quantities. The highest concentrations of microelements are most often observed in the shell of fruits, green leaves, germs and shells of grain crops. Therefore, the more thoroughly plant products are cleaned (polished rice, cookies, sugar, premium flour, etc.), the poorer they are in microelements and vitamins. It is best to consume the microelements necessary for the body with various plant foods. Aluminum is present in almost all human tissues and organs, but is most adsorbed by the tissues of bones, kidneys, liver, spleen and brain. Aluminum is involved in the processes of bone tissue regeneration, in phosphorus metabolism, increases the acidity and digestive ability of gastric juice, participates in the synthesis of epithelial and connective tissue, increases the activity of digestive enzymes, but in large doses inhibits the activity of these enzymes. With long-term use by patients, especially elderly and senile people, as well as those with impaired renal function, aluminum preparations (white clay, aluminum hydroxide, almagel, etc.), toxic complications are possible: severe dysfunction of the central nervous system (impaired speech and memory, dementia, psychosis, muscle twitching, convulsions); the occurrence of a negative calcium balance due to increased excretion of calcium from bone tissue under the influence of aluminum; suppression of fluoride absorption, which leads to demineralization of bone tissue; the occurrence of microcytic and hypochromic anemia; violation of vitamin D metabolism; liver dysfunction.

Aluminum is contained in most vegetables, as well as in berries, fruits, and grain processing products. The daily requirement of an adult for aluminum is 49 mg.

One of the most important hematopoietic microelements. It is part of the hemoglobin of red blood cells - erythrocytes and the respiratory enzymes of cells (catalase, peroxidase and cytochromes - redox enzymes involved in tissue respiration), causing their catalytic activity.

An adult's need for this microelement is 12-15 mg per day with an average weight of 70 kg, and the daily need of a six-month-old child is 12-16 mg. In humans, approximately 1/4 of all iron circulating in the body is in the form of the iron-containing protein ferritin, i.e., in the depot, and about 3/4 is in hemoglobin in the blood. Such depots for iron are the spleen, liver and bone marrow. Iron supplements are used to treat hypochromic and iron deficiency anemia. In medicinal preparations, iron is absorbed better if it is in the form of a doubly charged ion. Therefore, for example, ascorbic acid promotes the absorption of iron, and calcium carbonate, burnt magnesia, sodium bicarbonate and phosphates inhibit absorption. This microelement is found in significant quantities in horseradish, spinach, rutabaga, beets, carrots, tomatoes, radishes, white cabbage, lettuce, beans and other vegetables and fruits.

Takes part in the formation of the thyroid hormone - thyroxine, increases the body's absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and has a positive effect on atherosclerosis and obesity. The daily human need for iodine is 0.1-0.3 mg. The main store of iodine in our body is the thyroid gland. Lack of iodine in food leads to goiter.

Of the vegetables, the richest in iodine are beets, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, celery, asparagus, white cabbage, carrots and others, as well as grains and legumes, berries, feijoa.

One of the most important hematopoietic microelements. The main role of cobalt in the human and animal body is in the microbial synthesis of the antianemic vitamin B12 in the digestive tract. With a lack of cobalt, the synthesis of this vitamin slows down and at the same time the transition of iron into the composition of hemoglobin in the blood is inhibited, which leads to the development of pernicious anemia. Cobalt is also involved in the synthesis of proteins, nucleic acids and amino acids, the transformation of fats, promotes the absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium, and stimulates growth. With a lack of cobalt, the development of goiter accelerates, and with an excess, tissue respiration is disrupted. This microelement exhibits its biological activity only with sufficient amounts of iron and copper. In plants, cobalt has a positive effect on increasing yield on acidic soils. Of the vegetable plants, the richest in cobalt are garlic, lettuce, beets, potatoes, white cabbage, carrots, onions, tomatoes, parsley, spinach, sorrel, as well as legumes and grains. The daily requirement for cobalt for an adult is 0.1-0.2 mg, and for children it is one and a half to two times higher. In the body, cobalt mainly accumulates in the spleen and pancreas.

It is part of all plant and animal organisms, which cannot function normally without it. Silicon is found in all human tissues and organs, but its highest content is observed where nerve fibers are poorly developed or absent: in the lungs, epidermis of the skin, hair, nails, kidneys. This microelement influences the formation of connective and epithelial formations; without it, the process of hair and nail growth is impossible.

A decrease in the intake of silicon compounds into the body (with hypovitaminosis D) leads to diseases of the skin and bones. Moreover, in such pathological processes as malignant tumors, goiter, pulmonary tuberculosis, kidney stones, dermatitis, etc., there is always a violation of silicon metabolism. Thus, with goiter, silicon accumulates in the thyroid gland 3-4 times more than in a healthy gland, and in malignant tumors its content increases 3-6 times. However, the role of silicon in the life activity of humans and higher organisms remains unclear.

Silicon is found in most food plants (sugar beets, oats, millet, wheat, rice, etc.), and also accumulates in huge quantities in such medicinal plants as horsetail and knotweed. The daily human requirement for this microelement has not been established.

Manganese.

Participates in the synthesis of nucleic acids, activates a number of protein metabolism enzymes, as well as vitamins C, B1, B2, Be and E, has a positive effect on hematopoiesis, tissue respiration, immunity, growth and reproduction, and prevents the development of atherosclerosis.

In plant life, manganese takes part in such an important process as photosynthesis, accelerates plant growth and seed ripening. In experiments on animals, it was found that insufficient manganese in their diet leads to growth retardation, impaired skeletal development, joint deformation, infertility and high mortality in young animals, and large doses of manganese caused menstrual irregularities, spontaneous abortion and infertility. In humans, excessive intake of manganese compounds into the body also has a toxic effect.

The highest manganese content was noted in dill, horseradish, eggplant, potatoes, onions, parsley, sala, beets, garlic and other vegetables. It is also found in the shells of legumes and grains, fruits and berries. The daily requirement of an adult for manganese is 5-10 mg, and for children - on average 3 times higher (per 1 kg of weight).

One of the important hematopoietic microelements. Without copper, hemoglobin synthesis and iron metabolism are impossible. The copper-containing protein ceruloplasmin, found in the blood plasma of humans and many animals, catalyzes the oxidation of ferrous ions into ferric ions, accelerates the oxidation reactions of polyamines and polyphenols, and complex copper ions take part in many other oxidation-reduction reactions of substances in the body. Copper is associated with the metabolism of vitamins A, C, E, P, complex B. In plants, copper is involved in the processes of respiration and photosynthesis, affects protein, carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism, and participates in redox processes.

A lack of copper in food products reduces the catalytic activity of such oxidative enzymes as lactase, oxidase, tyrosinase, phenolase, which contain it, and can lead to various forms of anemia and cause profound disturbances in the process of hematopoiesis; accelerates the development of goiter and slows down the formation of callus in fractures. With a lack of copper, scarlet fever, diphtheria, pulmonary tuberculosis, Botkin's disease and some other infectious diseases occur in a more severe form, and toxicosis occurs more often in pregnant women. However, excess copper is no less harmful than its deficiency.

Among vegetable plants, the richest in this microelement are horseradish, onions, pumpkin, lettuce, and beets; carrots, tomatoes, as well as grain crops and some fruits. An adult's requirement for copper is on average 0.035 mg/kg per day (2-3 mg for a person of average weight), and for infants it ranges from 0.05 to 0.1 mg/kg.

Molybdenum.

In the human and animal bodies, molybdenum is closely associated with enzymes and vitamins B2 and E. In plants, this microelement takes part in the accumulation of ascorbic acid and chlorophyll in cells and in the absorption of nitrogen. Small doses of molybdenum in food help neutralize toxins, and an excess of molybdenum in soils and, accordingly, in food products leads to anemia, gout, diarrhea and endemic goiter (in the latter case, also with a lack of iodine in soils and plants).

The daily requirement for molybdenum is 0.5 mg. This trace element accumulates mainly in the liver, kidneys, endocrine glands and skin. Molybdenum is found in lettuce, parsley, spinach, potatoes, carrots, onions, tomatoes, radishes and other vegetables, as well as legumes and cereals.

This microelement is probably considered vital, but its physiological role is still poorly studied. In medicine, preparations containing arsenic are used for neuroses, neurasthenia, myasthenia, loss of nutrition, mild forms of anemia, exacerbation of chronic leukemia, psoriasis. In large doses, arsenic inhibits the synthesis of leukocytes.

The daily requirement for arsenic has not been established. In the body, this trace element accumulates in the spleen, kidneys, liver, lungs and in the walls of the gastrointestinal tract.

Arsenic is found in beets, potatoes, horseradish, onions, white cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, radishes and other vegetables, as well as in grain crops.

The physiological role of nickel is still not fully understood, although it is probably considered an essential trace element for the body. It has been established, for example, that with age its content in a person’s blood changes, that it takes part in the process of hematopoiesis, that it is an activator of certain enzymes - trypsin, carboxylase and others. In nature, there are plants and microorganisms that contain this trace element thousands of times more than their environment.

The human need for nickel is 0.6 mg per day. The largest amount of nickel is concentrated in the liver, kidneys, pituitary gland, pancreas and thyroid gland.

Among vegetables, lettuce, beets, garlic, and carrots are especially high in nickel. It is also found in potatoes, onions, tomatoes, radishes, radishes, parsley, spinach, berries and fruits, grains and legumes.

It has some effect on enzymatic processes, carbohydrate metabolism, and thyroid function, but its main role in the body is related to the development of teeth and bone tissue. With a lack of fluoride, dental caries occurs, and with an excess, fluorosis occurs, which manifests itself in disruption of the ossification processes and spotting of tooth enamel. The daily requirement of the human body for fluoride is 1 mg. Most of this microelement accumulates in teeth, nails and hair. Excess fluoride in drinking water and food has a depressing effect on the thyroid gland. In clinical practice, the fluoride-containing drug “Zitaftor” is used in a complex of therapeutic and preventive measures in children to improve the formation of tissues of permanent teeth and for dental caries. Among vegetables, the richest in fluoride are lettuce, parsley, celery, potatoes, white cabbage, carrots, and beets. It is also found in many grains, berries, fruits and tea leaves.

Promotes maximum manifestation of the activity of the hormone insulin, and in case of a lack of magnesium in the body, it activates the enzyme phosphoglucomutase, stimulates growth and increases glycogen reserves in the liver and muscles. If there is a deficiency of chromium in the human body, life expectancy is reduced, carbohydrate metabolism is disrupted (which can lead to diabetes mellitus), eye disease occurs, growth slows down. However, the mechanism of action of chromium and the process of its absorption by the body remain unclear. The daily human requirement for chromium has not been established. This trace element is found in the highest concentration in the brain. At the same time, as shown by the results of studies by American scientists, chromium was absent in tissue preparations of persons who died from atherosclerosis. It should be remembered that tri- and hexavalent chromium compounds (chromates and bi-chromates) are very toxic: they cause lung cancer and various allergies. These compounds are absorbed not only when dust is inhaled, but also through the skin. In the body, trivalent chromium ion actively combines with proteins, nucleic acids and accumulates in the lungs. Chromium is found in carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, white cabbage, onions, as well as in some grains and legumes - corn, oats, rye, barley, beans and others.

Participates in the synthesis of proteins, RNA, is included in a number of enzymes (carbonic anhydrous, alcohol dehydrogenase, dipeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, etc.), is an activator of the hormone insulin and some metalloenzyme complexes (arginase, lecithinase, etc.), takes part in the mechanism of cellular division, has a normalizing effect on carbohydrate metabolism, skeletal development and weight of animals and humans, has a strong effect on sexual development, reproduction, fertilization processes and the rate of wound healing. The daily requirement for zinc for an adult is 0.2 mg/kg (10-15 mg with an average weight of 70 kg), for infants - 0.3 mg/kg, and during puberty - 0.6 mg/kg. Zinc accumulates in the highest concentrations in the pituitary gland, pancreas, gonads, liver, kidneys and muscles. Zinc deficiency in humans manifests itself in the form of dwarfism, delayed sexual development, anemia, loss of appetite, and decreased food consumption. At the same time, an increased content of this microelement in the body has a carcinogenic effect.