Studies show eating beets are an excellent way to improve your health. However, what are they, and why are beets healthy? Whether you eat the beet or beet greens, whether they are cooked or juiced, the benefits of beets are deliciously amazing.
What are Beets?
Hearty and easy to harvest, beets are actually root vegetables native to the Mediterranean region, although they are enjoyed throughout the world. They can be enjoyed cooked, pickled, canned, or fresh. A unique quality of beets is the entire plant is edible. So, why are beets healthy? Simply put, the benefits are amazing.
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Nutrition in the beet
Eating the bulb, or actual beet, provides you with rich sources of folic acid, potassium, calcium, and antioxidants. Moreover, if you juice beets , you’ll enjoy a delicious treat filled with vitamin B1, B2, calcium, iron, and bioflavanoids. Juicing beets also serves to detoxify the kidneys and liver. If you are looking for a milder juice flavor, try juicing beets with carrots.
Don’t Forget the Beet Greens
While many people enjoy the wholesome and delicious benefits of beets, others simply throw the beet greens away. In reality, beet greens contain substantial amounts of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin A. Toss these scrumptious greens into your salad, sauté them into your stir fry, or bake them in your casseroles, this versatile green can be enjoyed in just about any dish.
Nutritional Breakdown
Here is the nutritional data for a typical serving of beets or beet greens.
Beets: A one cup measure of beets provides:
- 60 calories
- 2 g protein
- 13.6 g of carbohydrate
- 1 g fiber
- 28 IU vitamin A
- 126 mcg Folic Acid
- 15 mg vitamin C
- 22 mg Calcium
- 28 mg Magnesium
- 66 mgs Phosphorus
- 440 mg Potassium
- 98 mg Sodium
Beet Greens: A one cup measure of beet greens provides:
- 8 calories
- .7 g protein
- 1.5 g carbohydrate
- .5 g fiber
- 2308 IU vitamin A
- 46 mg calcium
- 28 mg magnesium
- 16 mg phosphorous
- 208 mg potassium
- 76 mg sodium
Some Delicious Ways to Enjoy Beets
Sweet and Tangy Beet Salad:
Ingredients needed:
2-3 large beets with greens
1 cucumber, scrubbed, sliced, and then quartered
1 orange, peeled and sliced
1/2 bunch cauliflower, washed well, and broken into bite size pieces
1/4 C slivered almonds
1/4 C craisins
1 C spinach, or other green leafy vegetable
How to prepare:
Slice off stems from beets. Set aside. Cook beets and allow to cool. Once cooled, thinly slice beets. Set aside. Combine all ingredients, including beet greens, in a large bowl, and toss gently with your favorite vinaigrette dressing. Enjoy
Why are beets healthy?
So, why are beets healthy? They are healthy because they are filled with essential vitamins and minerals that aid in kidney and liver function, as well as antioxidants which aid in the cleansing of the body. Moreover, the vitamins in beets and beet greens aide in vision, skin and bone health. In other words, beets are just good food.
References
Dunne, Lavon. Nutrition Almanac; 1990
Mindell, Earl. Food As Medicine; 1994
