And The Beet Goes On: 10 Reasons Beets Are ‘Da Bomb!

I didn’t start really LOVIN’ beets until they started making a regular appearance in my summer CSA share with The Silverbrook Farm last year. For some crazy reason, I associated them coming out of a nasty, BPA-lined can and left it at that.

Plus, they were {and still are – let’s not kid ourselves} a pain in the arse {and messy} to roast and peel. I mean, have you ever peeled beets after a fresh mani?

Not cool. I know, I know – buck up, Kristen.

Fact is, I was missing out on some serious nutritional mojo, have since stepped it up, and make the summer {and then some} beet season count. 

Here’s my top ten reasons beets are ‘da bomb:

1. Low cal, zero trans-and saturated fat source

NOT that real, naturally-occurring saturated fats are a bad thing {ahem, coconut oil!?}, but nonetheless beets are a great, high-fiber, and low-cal way to satisfy that sweet tooth. One beat has approximately 45 calories.

2. Energy-boosting

Their high-carb/sugar load is a fantastic and natural to fuel up and give yourself that much-needed energy boost. And, as opposed to refined sugar, there is no crashing and burning. Think power lunch or pre-workout snack.

3. Weight management

Coming in at 4 grams of fiber per serving {2 beets}, these beautiful root veggies keep you fuller, longer, and you know what that means? Fewer cravings and less chance of overeating. 

4. Baby mama lovin’

Beets are a great source of folic acid which is necessary for the production and maintenance of new cells, including that of growing babes. It also helps to prevent birth defects. One cup of beets contains 136 mcg, which is 34% of the recommended daily allowance.

5. Antioxidant-rich

Rich, dark-colored vegetables have recently been found to contain some of the highest levels of antioxidants. Beets are no exception, boasting photochemicals, magnesium, iron, calcium, niacin, Vitamins A and C, and betacyanin, the pigment that gives beets their red color and link to fighting cancer, particularly colon cancer.

6. Zero-waste

You know how I loathe waste, right? If you grow your own or buy from a grocer or farm that includes the beet greens, you’ve hit the jackpot. Beet greens are an excellent source of fiber, carotenoids, flavonoid anti-oxidants, and vitamin A. Use them as you would kale or spinach. Chop them up and toss them in salad {as I did in this delish Blushing Quinoa, Roasted Beet and Feta Salad with Chick Peas and Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette}, sauté with a bit of fresh garlic and coconut oil, mix into whole grain pasta, or swap it out for chard in this satisfying and mega-leftover producing Four Cheese Swiss Chard Lasagna.

7. Detoxing

Besides radishes, dandelion greens, and spirulina {the superstars I’ve crushed on in the past}, beets aid in cleansing the blood and colon, while strengthening the gallbladder and liver. In fact, I’ve got some beet kvass fermenting in my cupboard as I type, that was born shortly after attending a fermentation workshop at my favorite health food store, How On Earth. Check it out!

The recipe was shared by Cathy Sloan Gallagher, Nutritional Consultant and Food Enthusiast from Real Food Story, who co-taught the workshop. She calls it blood tonic. I call it addicting.

8. Potassium-rich

A 100 g fresh root has 325 mg of potassium {7% of daily requirements}. Why potassium? It’s a critical electrolyte that allows our muscles to move, our nerves to fire, and our kidneys to filter blood. The right balance of potassium literally makes the heart beat. This is what is used to actually stop the heart from beating during open heart surgery. T.M.I.? Perhaps. Moving on…

9. Happi-fying

Beets contain a substance called betaine, which has also been used to treat certain cases of depression. Betaines naturally boost the body’s hormones that give us a sense of well-being, stimulation, and relaxation, similar to dark chocolate. Beets and chocolate. Sign me up!

10. Love potion

An urban legend this is not. The ancient Romans knew a thing or two back in the day when they used beets as an aphrodisiac. The high boron content in beets is directly related to the production of human sex hormones. But don’t take my word for it. Read more here. Because of this, it also helps to alleviate hot flashes and symptoms associated with menopause.

As if you needed another reason to get on the beet train, here are three more…

I give you this week’s featured recipe, a zero waste and antioxidant-infused Blushing Quinoa, Roasted Beet and Feta Salad with Chick Peas and Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette, and last week’s inflammation-busting Roasted Beet, Scallion, and Goat Cheese Salad with White Wine Honey Vinaigrette.

And lastly, beets freeze well. So if you’re feeling a bit overloaded from your garden or CSA, here’s a primer for how to prep and store them for colder days.

I told you I’ve been living it up, beet style. Once you go beet, you never go back. Or so I’m told.

Are you a beet fan or are you scarred from the canned nastiness of your childhood? I’d love to hear. Please leave a comment below.

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