Oh… he wasn’t singing about beets? My bad.

Anyway, can I just say, that I. LOVE. BEETS. They’re delicious! And so good for you. This root veggie is one to ensure you eat regularly. But how to incorporate them into your diet? Don’t worry, there are lots of ideas below.

Beets contain many bone-building, health-giving minerals such as iron, potassium, zinc, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus. And the vitamins! Oh, the vitamins. A, C, B3, and folic acid, to name a few. Beets also provide amazing antioxidants, which protect our cells from damage and strengthen our immune system. Further, pectin, a fibre found in beets, binds with toxins and cholesterol and carries them out of the body. This also makes the beet an excellent liver food, helping to detoxify and cleanse. Pectin also helps to maintain bowel health and regularity, as do all types of fibre. And, when your digestion and BMs are healthy and regular, and toxins are leaving your body rather than camping out, your skin will likely be clear and glow-y.

As Beyonce would say, here are some beetylicious ways to enjoy them:

-shred them (raw) and add them to a mixed greens salad along with other veggies, nuts, and seeds (don’t forget to top it all off with lots of Liquid Gold :))
-chop them into small cubes, steam them, and enjoy them with dinner
-keep those leftover steamed cubes in the fridge and have them as a cold snack anytime
-slice them thinly and roast them; serve as a healthy side dish
-chop them up and add them to your smoothie for some extra liver lovin’
-drink some Biotta Beetroot Juice, or juice your own using some water as your base
-use them as the main ingredient in soup (for example, the Eastern European borscht is a to-die-for beet soup)
-cut them into strips and bake them with some melted coconut oil and sea salt (who needs potatoes?)

A word of warning: if you eat a lot of beets, it’s likely that there will be red in or accompanying your poo, and at first glance you’ll think you’re bleeding from your bum. Rest assured, you are not. It’s just the beets. In fact, you can use beets to measure your intestinal transit time; that is, the total time from when food enters your body to when it exits. Simply record the time when you eat them (ideally raw, so all the lovely red pigment remains intact), and watch for the first sign of them in or alongside the stool.

How do you like your beets? I’m always interested in finding out different ideas to enjoy delicious, nutritious foods. Leave a comment below with your favourite way to eat them. I’ll be sure to try it out and report back. 🙂

… and the beet goes on! (as Sonny and Cher once said… right??)

References
1. Erasmus, Udo. Fats that Heal Fats that Kill. Alive Books, British Columbia (1993): 190, 222, 401.
2. Haas, Elson M., MD, with Buck Levin, RD. Staying Healthy with Nutrition. Celestial Arts, California (2006): 314.
3. Jensen, Bernard. Nature Has A Remedy. Bernard Jensen International, California (1978): 44, 73.