Beets. First response: YUCK! Personally, I never liked beets until my octogenarian neighbor gave me fresh from the garden - much better than canned, hands down. If you're a foodie and a health nut, you already know and love this nutritious food! If you are not a beet lover, don't be so quick to write this little veggie off. Read on and consider the health bennys of this rarely liked root!
El cheapo. Canned beets cost somewhere between $1-$2, fresh beets at the farmer's market will run about $2.25 per pound. A $2.50 pack of organic seed will produce about 150 fresh with the probability of coaxing some seeds to keep for the next planting. They don't take much room, can be grown in containers and mature within 60 days - with the bonus of getting beet greens for salads.
Slap full of nutritional goodness. Folic Acid - Vitamin B - is necessary for cell production and maintenance and is needed for anyone undergoing physical healing and is a great source for pregnant women. While many take this as an herbal supplement, getting nutrients and vitamins directly from food is always more beneficial as it delivers the pure and superior source to the bloodstream.
Naturally contains sodium, iron, phosphorous, magnesium, and calcium, vitamins A and C and niacin.
Super-hero health benefits: detoxing, love-inducing, feel good roots. I love healing through natural foods. Medical studies support beets guard against cancer and heart disease and works as a blood purifier. Certain unique pigment antioxidants in the root as well as in its top greens have found to offer protection against coronary artery disease and stroke; lower cholesterol levels within the body, and have anti-aging effects. Rich in betaine, beets are also helpful in stimulating liver function and eliminating toxins while boosting mental health with tryptophans. Nature's viagra? One of the first known uses of beets was by the ancient Romans, who used them medicinally as an aphrodisiac. Beets cause an increase in blood flow due to their nitrates. Which also causes increased blood flow to the genitals - one mechanism Viagra uses to create their...effects. Beets also contain high amounts of boron - which is directly related to the production of human sex hormones. Who knew?
Diverse and colorful addition to recipes: raw, boiled, roasted, steamed, sauteed, not to mention Borscht. I have never attempted this Eastern European soup, but will definitely be trying it once my crop comes about! Raw beet leaves add a hearty flavor to salads,. If you are juicing, but haven’t gotten to veggies yet, give beets a try. Use a small amount at first to supplement your already yummy fruit smoothies. Work your way up to more as you prefer. Here is a tasty and simple juiced beets recipe I've added to my must try list:
Beet Juice with Carrots and Celery
Ingredients:
*1 small beetroot (the small ones are sweeter!)
*2 large carrots
*1 stalk of celery
Directions:
1. Wash the vegetables using water and a vegetable brush.
2. Remove the carrot and beetroot tops. Peel the beetroot if the skin is tough. Otherwise, just cut off the top.
3. Slice up the vegetables to fit your juicer.
4. Juice and serve.
For a sweeter drink, add an apple, or use 2 apples instead of the carrots.
Beet you didn't know. Around 800 BC, an Assyrian text describes beets growing in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the wonders of the ancient world. In 1975, during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, cosmonauts from the USSR’s Soyuz 19 welcomed the Apollo 18 astronauts by preparing a banquet of borscht (beet soup) in zero gravity. In Australia, a true Oz-style burger must have a slice or two of beets. Beets can be made into a wine that tastes similar to port. While the benefits of beets are not popularly known, they are profound. Are you inspired to try?
Great blog post! I always liked beets and glad I do!
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