The fact you’re on this page means you care about your parrot and what you feed it which is a lot more than some people. A parrots diet is very important and the quality of food that you give to them will only improve the lives that they have.
Fresh fruits and vegetables should be in their diet if you’re really serious about giving them some quality nutrition, however does this mean all fruit and vegetables are safe for our parrots to eat? What about beets? Let’s find out.
Can parrots eat beets? Yes parrots can eat beets. They are completely safe for them to have and even contain many vitamins and minerals that they can actually benefit from. Beets are great for controlling blood pressure, help with inflammation, improve digestion health and many other benefits I’ll cover in this post. There’s also manganese, copper, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and iron packed inside beets.
In this article I’m going to explain further what makes beet so nutritious, can parrots eat it raw and some other things I think you might find useful.
What Are The Benefits Of Feeding Beets To Your Parrot?
They Are Good For Reducing Blood Pressure
Beets have been studied to have an effect on lowering blood pressure. This is because beets have a high amount of nitrates, this then converts into nitric oxide a molecule inside the body that dilates blood vessels leading to a decreased blood pressure.
Beets also contain a healthy amount of folate, in which some studies have shown that it can reduce blood pressure too.
A healthy blood pressure is going to put less pressure on your parrots cardiovascular system and keep them healthier as a whole.
They Can Help With Inflammation
Beets also possess many anti-inflammatory properties. This is due to beets containing pigments called betalains.
They Improve Digestive System Health
Beets contain fiber, a type of carbohydrate that the body can’t digest. The more fiber in a diet the better the digestive system will perform.
Fiber makes stools bigger and softer, this leads to an easier passage through the bowels therefore reducing the risk of constipation and overall better bowel movements.
It also regulates the body’s use of sugar and keeps blood sugar levels in check.
Fiber also acts as a weight controller. Eating fiber alone won’t make your parrot lose weight however foods high in fiber tend to be more filling, so in theory a diet high in fiber should make your parrot stay at a healthy weight as they will be too full to overeat.
Manganese
Manganese is an essential nutrient involved in many of the chemical processes that go on inside your parrots body like processing of carbohydrates, cholesterol and proteins.
It’s also important for making sure calcium is absorbed properly, blood sugar regulation, bone health and blood clotting.
Foods high in manganese that are safe for your parrot to eat include lentils, seeds, bananas, kale, spinach and mustard greens.
Potassium
Beets also contain potassium, a mineral important for how your parrots cells function. Potassium works alongside sodium to ensure the proper function of cells, nerves, muscles and the heart.
Potassium also reduces blood pressure, it does this by eliminating sodium which in turn relaxes the blood vessels inside the body leading to a lowered blood pressure.
Vitamin B6
This vitamin benefits a variety of things inside your birds little body. It works to benefits the central nervous system along with their metabolism. It also works by turning food into energy to keep your parrot alert and playful.
Vitamin B6 can also act as a mood enhancer. This is due to it helping create neurotransmitters in the brain like dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters than make you happy and feel good.
You know when you eat your favorite foods or play your favorite video game and feel happy while doing so? That’s because dopamine is being released in your brain.
Vitamin C
A vitamin critical for your parrots immune system that means they are able to fight off viruses among other infections. This isn’t all vitamin C is good for it’s also an antioxidant that helps protect your cells against the damage done by free radicals.
These are molecules in the body than have the ability to cause heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants neutralize these free radicals and protect your parrots cells from any damage.
Other health benefits that vitamin C can bring include :
- Anti-inflammatory
- Washes metals out of the system
- Prevents cataracts
Should Parrots Have Raw Beets Or Cooked?
Like many vegetables cooking them will make you lose some of the well desired nutrients you’re originally feeding your parrot for in the first place.
As raw beets are safe for your bird giving them raw or cooked is entirely up to you. And the way your parrot prefers of course.
What Other Foods Can Your Parrot Eat?
You know beet is safe for your parrot to eat but if you’re like me then your always looking for new foods to improve your parrots diet to create some variety and and include vital things that aren’t already in your birds diet.
So what other foods can your parrot eat?
- Fruit & Vegetables
Foods like asparagus, broccoli, carrots, peppers, bananas, blueberries and pineapples are all fine and encouraged for your parrot to eat.
- Nuts
Things like almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pistachios and walnuts can be fed to your parrot. Just be wary of the fat content in some of them so they may need to be treated as a snack for your parrot. We don’t want them getting fat!
Beets For Parrots – Final Thoughts
Beets are a healthy nutritious vegetable you can safely feed your parrot without having to worry about any damage. The only damage caused will be the mess made from your little feathered friend but they are worth it when you think of the excellent nutrition they are getting from them.
I hope this article has been useful for you and your parrot enjoys this yummy new addition to their diet!
Related reading : Can parrots eat edamame?
