Do you beet it? Like eat beets, because you should. They’ve been around for a very long time, which means they’ve got something good going for them. Humans began domesticating beets over 6,000 years ago, mainly to use them for dyes, teas, and medicinal purposes.
Recently, it has been discovered that beets are much more powerful than we initially thought. Beets contain more antioxidant properties than all common grocery store vegetables except artichokes, red cabbage, kale, and bell peppers.
Beets are packed full of nutrients such as Boron, which helps build bones by boosting the production of testosterone. This effect may also be why the ancient Roman Empire used beets as an aphrodisiac (natural Viagra anyone?).
Beets get their red hue from phytonutrients called betalains, which can help fight cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and digestive issues. A 2009 test-tube study found beet juice halted the proliferation of cancer cells of the pancreas, prostate, lungs and brain by 85-100%.
Finally, beets contain natural nitrates which can help to reduce blood pressure and lowers the amount of oxygen required by our muscles during exercise. Researchers found individuals who consumed beet juice before exercise were able to train for 15% longer when compared to placebo. This effect was observed in both athletes and sedentary individuals. A 15% improvement could be significant for an athlete during competition. In fact, before winning the gold medal in the 5k and 10k races at the 2012 Olympics, Mo Farah of Great Britain downed a few glasses of beet juice.
Beets can be purchased fresh or canned. Fresh varieties, such as the Detroit Dark Red and Red Ace, are some of the most common and nutritious. If the leaves are still attached you can eat them too, in fact they’re even more nutritious than the roots. However, canned beets provide just as much antioxidant power as fresh.
Be careful when cooking with beets as they can stain wooden cutting boards and your hands…
Trying adding some sliced canned beets to a salad with blue cheese dressing. You can thank me later.
-Tres
For more information about beets and an array of other fruits and vegetables, check out “Eating on the Wild Side” by Jo Robinson.
Robinson, J. (2013). Eating on the Wild Side. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group.
Recently, it has been discovered that beets are much more powerful than we initially thought. Beets contain more antioxidant properties than all common grocery store vegetables except artichokes, red cabbage, kale, and bell peppers.
Beets are packed full of nutrients such as Boron, which helps build bones by boosting the production of testosterone. This effect may also be why the ancient Roman Empire used beets as an aphrodisiac (natural Viagra anyone?).
Beets get their red hue from phytonutrients called betalains, which can help fight cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and digestive issues. A 2009 test-tube study found beet juice halted the proliferation of cancer cells of the pancreas, prostate, lungs and brain by 85-100%.
Finally, beets contain natural nitrates which can help to reduce blood pressure and lowers the amount of oxygen required by our muscles during exercise. Researchers found individuals who consumed beet juice before exercise were able to train for 15% longer when compared to placebo. This effect was observed in both athletes and sedentary individuals. A 15% improvement could be significant for an athlete during competition. In fact, before winning the gold medal in the 5k and 10k races at the 2012 Olympics, Mo Farah of Great Britain downed a few glasses of beet juice.
Beets can be purchased fresh or canned. Fresh varieties, such as the Detroit Dark Red and Red Ace, are some of the most common and nutritious. If the leaves are still attached you can eat them too, in fact they’re even more nutritious than the roots. However, canned beets provide just as much antioxidant power as fresh.
Be careful when cooking with beets as they can stain wooden cutting boards and your hands…
Trying adding some sliced canned beets to a salad with blue cheese dressing. You can thank me later.
-Tres
For more information about beets and an array of other fruits and vegetables, check out “Eating on the Wild Side” by Jo Robinson.
Robinson, J. (2013). Eating on the Wild Side. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group.