Beet this!
When it comes to roots, you can’t beat beets for it’s sweet taste and nutritional punch.
If you are only familiar with the canned beets typically found in salad bars you are in for a real treat if you grow and cook your own!
Beets are believed to have it’s roots in Africa, migrating to Asia and Europe where initially only the green tops were used as food. The Romans were the first to cultivate beets and begin to enjoy this veggie from top to bottom. In 19th century Europe, beets became an important commodity as an alternative source for sugar besides the sometimes hard to come by sugar cane. Other commercial uses are rooted in its brilliant red color - a great natural dye for foods from dairy products to condiments to Red Velvet Cake.
There are so many good reasons besides taste to dedicate a small patch of garden to this wonder root.
If you don’t want your heart to skip a beat
- research published in the journal Hypertension showed beet juice can lower blood pressure
- a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that the betaine in beets lowered homocysteine - an inflammatory marker associated with heart disease
- animals fed beet fiber showed a significant decrease in cholesterol and triglycerides
If you do want your heart to skip a beat
- since Roman times, beets have been considered an aphrodisiac - beets are rich in the mineral Boron which is required to make our sex hormones
May aid in beating down risk of cancer
- studies have shown beets can increase the number of immune cells in the colon responsible for detecting pre-cancerous cells
- compounds in beets increase the detoxification and antioxidant capacity of the liver reducing free radical damage - damage that can increase your risk for cancer
- beet juice has been found to reduce the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines in the stomach. nitrosamines are formed from nitrates found in cured meats like bacon and ham. Hmmm, maybe a side of Red Flannel Hash with breakfast may be a good idea…
With beets you get two for one as the green tops are packed with many of the same nutrients as it’s close cousin Swiss Chard.
Tomorrow, tips on growing and preparing beets.
*Be advised that any nutrition information suggested is not intended as a treatment for any disease. The intent of any nutritional recommendation is to support the physiological and biochemical processes of the human body, and not to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent any disease or condition. Always work with a qualified medical professional before making changes to your diet, prescription medication, lifestyle or exercise activities.
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