Ode to A Beet: The Beloved Superfood

How do we love thee? Let us count the ways. With apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, beets have so many health benefits it’s hard to describe how much we love them. And to add to our sonnet to beets, chefs and foodies around the world are discovering beets can be a delicious addition to gourmet dishes, tasty juices, and healthy snacks.

Why so super?
For starters, beets are high in potassium, vitamin A and antioxidants, and they are a good source of magnesium, which helps our bodies maintain a healthy level of fluids.^[1]  Plus they are high in folate, Vitamin C and have a healthy dose of plant-based nitrates–the good kind that have positive effects, when eaten.^[2]

According to the LA Times,[3] beets are said to, “… reduce blood pressure and anemia, improve circulation and cognitive function (and are) being studied as a natural way to battle cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and the sluggishness that can come with age.”

Is organic worth It?
We think eating organic foods is usually worth the money. A guide at www.jesichashope.org says beets are “…thin skinned veggies that grow underground (and) can absorb pesticides and heavy metals.” The conclusion? Organic is best.

Eating this nutrition-packed beauty
Beets have come a long way since our moms boiled or roasted them, popped the skins off and sautéed in butter with a little salt and pepper.

Today, beets are gracing salads in five-star restaurants, playing a starring role in main dishes and making guest appearances in juices and smoothies of all descriptions. Pureed beets are even showing up in desserts like red beet chocolate cake, and there is a new growth industry around shots and supplements, beet-juice blends and beet-based chips and snacks.

Many nutritionists say that raw pressed beetroot has the greatest health benefits, like in this recipe from Wellness Travel Award-winner Kamalaya Koh Samui, Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa in Thailand.

Of course, top spa chefs have been wowing guests for years with super-healthy and delicious recipes that make eating your vitamins a taste sensation, such as seared sea bass with baby beets from award-winning Cal-a-Vie Health Spa in California.

[1] Michigan State Extension University, “Pickle beets to enjoy them all year round,” 8.29.16
[2] Superfood Evolution.com
[3] Los Angeles Times, Valli Herman, “Trend alert, why beets are the hot new superfood,” July 2016