Beets (and beet juice) are blood-building herb that detoxifies blood and renews it with minerals and natural sugars. There may also be substances in beets that aid circulation. Recently, a Greek study found that people with higher intakes of betaine and the B vitamin choline had less inflammation, suggesting that these nutrients may help protect against heart disease and other chronic illnesses. Other research from Britain has found that drinking two cups of beet juice a day significantly lowered blood pressure in 14 healthy volunteers. Scientists think the nitrates found naturally in beets protect blood vessels and keep them healthy.
Beet juice contains betaine, which stimulates function of liver cells and protects our liver and bile ducts. Beets have been found to build red corpuscles and add tone to blood.
Combined findings on beets suggest that beet root ingestion can be one of the useful means to prevent cancer.
Suggestion: Wrap beets in foil and roast at 400 degrees until a fork pierces easily, about 40 minutes; slip skins off with a knife tip.
Beets pair well with flavorful goat, feta and blue cheeses, nuts and citrus fruits. They are ideal in salads, as a soup or a simple side dish, tossed with olive oil and sprinkled with pepper. Remember, however, hands aren't the only thing beets stain red. Beets can temporarily turn some people's urine a pink or reddish color, a condition called beeturia.
Beet Tidbits
Samuel Butler, in his Notebooks, remarked that "The beet root is a better emblem of modesty than the rose. The color is as fine; it conceals itself from the view more completely; moreover, it is good to eat, and will make excellent sugar." Ironically, Russian ladies, both peasants and high society ladies - used the beet as a rouge for their cheeks, both to keep away mosquitos and to attract the opposite sex.
See also:
Beet Food Facts
Cooking Tip: Keep the Vitamins in Your Vegetables
