On a scale of 1 to 10 most folks would rate a Beet as a negative gazillion.
Beets pack quite a punch in the "good for you" ring, and this comes from a gal who used to H-A-T-E beets.
Growing up, beets were the first thing to go bye-bye on my plate. They came from a can and were pickled! I would shove them all into my mouth at once and wash it down with that big ole' gulp of ice cold milk. Now that that was over, I felt I could savor and enjoy the things I liked on my plate. That was how I rolled as a kid; getting rid of the things I hated first.
Sorry mom.
Sorry mom.
Before I share with you two of my favorite ways to get beets into my diet, let me tease you with a little bit of info about the powerful punch these little beauties pack!
Beets have numerous and I do mean numerous health benefits.
With their anti-inflammatory, cleansing, anti-depressant, and even libido (oh yes they do!) enhancing benefits, who can resist trying beets with a new gusto. Where overall blood and liver health are concerned, beets increase blood flow and purify the blood. Feeling a little blue? Betaine in the beet, helps ease depression, and trytophan relaxes the mind and generates a mood similar to what a piece of chocolate may do. Who knew beets and chocolate can invoke similar emotions of joy. Need a little lift in the bedroom? Boron, a human sex hormone has been found to increase the libido. The Romans used it as an aphrodisiac way back then and if was good for the Romans........ (Chocolate and aphrodisiac used in same sentence with beets? Just saying'!) Beets pack a potent punch for expecting mothers as well, with their nutrient dense potassium, magnesium, fiber, phosphorus, iron, vitamins a b c, beta carotenes, beta cyanine, and finally folic acid. If all of this information has convinced you yet to give the poor veggie another shot then take a look at my two favorite ways to prepare a beet.
Beets have numerous and I do mean numerous health benefits.
With their anti-inflammatory, cleansing, anti-depressant, and even libido (oh yes they do!) enhancing benefits, who can resist trying beets with a new gusto. Where overall blood and liver health are concerned, beets increase blood flow and purify the blood. Feeling a little blue? Betaine in the beet, helps ease depression, and trytophan relaxes the mind and generates a mood similar to what a piece of chocolate may do. Who knew beets and chocolate can invoke similar emotions of joy. Need a little lift in the bedroom? Boron, a human sex hormone has been found to increase the libido. The Romans used it as an aphrodisiac way back then and if was good for the Romans........ (Chocolate and aphrodisiac used in same sentence with beets? Just saying'!) Beets pack a potent punch for expecting mothers as well, with their nutrient dense potassium, magnesium, fiber, phosphorus, iron, vitamins a b c, beta carotenes, beta cyanine, and finally folic acid. If all of this information has convinced you yet to give the poor veggie another shot then take a look at my two favorite ways to prepare a beet.
Roasting beets brings out their sweetness, and makes them super easy to peel. Most don't wanna eat all that tough skin, although, like a baked potato, I have been known to eat the skin too.
To Roast, start with beets that are firm and feel heavy for their size. Some beets come with their greens still attached. Just cut off the greens, wash them, and reserve them to make a salad. Yes, beet leaf salad is yummy too. And if you refuse the salad, the greens are a pretty decoration to pretty up your plate. Rinse and scrub and place on a large piece of aluminum foil. Drizzle with olive oil, and salt and pepper them. Place in the oven at 375°F for about an hour. And there you have it. A colorful and tasty vegetable to add to any grilled meat or even on top of a salmon salad.
My 2nd favorite way to get my beets on, is to juice them. I myself am not a juicer yet. I am saving for my Vitamix. However, I do like to run into Whole Foods and grab a juice mix of beet, apple, and lemon. My attached link below will show you how you can do this at home. I love having this juice in the morning, because it allows me to get my fruit servings in by the morning. It also gives me a whopping 55 "good" carb intake toward my daily "good" carb allowance, energy with no BAD sugars.
http://thehungryhusky.wordpress.com/2013/04/05/apple-beet-lemon-juice/
So there you have it. I declare the beet to be the new champion of all champions in the veggie world. Plus is it just a pretty color! Enjoy these two great recipes (certainly there are many more) to incorporate a powerful nutrient dense beauty of a rootie we call the beet. Bon a "beet"-tit!
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