For the Love of Beets

www.thecosmicbeet.com

This crimson vegetable has a long and illustrious history stretching back as far as 800 BCE. According to an Assyrian text, beets were described growing from the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Wonders of the Ancient World. Ancient Romans used beetroot as a remedy for fevers and constipation. Hippocrates advocated the use of beet leaves as a binding for wounds.

Interestingly enough, beets are considered "Nature's Viagra". One of the earliest known benefits of the red beet is it's use as an aphrodisiac during the times of ancient Rome. Folklore aside, beets have high amounts of Boron, which is directly related to the production of sex hormones. No wonder that in many cultures the belief persists that if a man and a woman eat from the same beetroot they will fall in love.

So now that we have your attention on how enticing the beet is...let's get down to the nitty gritty of nutritional facts. The beet is one of the best sources of folate and betaine. These two nutrients work together to lower the blood levels of homocysteine, an inflammatory compound that can change your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease. In addition, the natural pigments betacyanins (that give beets their color) have been proven to be potent cancer fighters. Beets are also shown to be high in zeaxanthin and lutein. These two phytochemicals are especially important in preventing eye disease.  Would you believe there's more?  Beets help detoxify the liver as well as purify the blood which are instrumental in healing disease.

Most people think the crimson bulb is the only edible part of the beet, however beet greens are also edible. The beet leaves are slightly bitter to taste but rich in chlorophyll, protein, calcium, magnesium, copper, sodium, fiber, beta carotene and vitamins A, B and C. Beet leaves have more nutritional value than their roots and have a higher content of iron over spinach. They can be juiced, added to salads, steamed, sautéed and added to a variety of

recipes or stuffed and cooked with rice, quinoa and any other ingredient...similar to grape leaves.

Beets have a litany of benefits and a long and "colorful" history. As a nutritional vegetable, they offer a complete source of benefits and their rich sensuous color continue to entice us today.

Want some ideas of how to incorporate beets in your diet? Take a stroll through some of this month's featured Beet recipes.