Like all vegetables, beets (aka, beetroot) make a wonderful addition to your healthy weight plan. They are high in antioxidants and an array of important micronutrients including folate, manganese, potassium and vitamin C. One cup of beets contains just 59 calories and about 15% (3.8 grams) of all the fiber you need for the whole day. Fiber promotes a healthy weight because it moves very slowly through the digestive tract which helps to keep you feeling full.
Although beets are available throughout the year, their peak season runs from June through October making them readily available at farmers markets in the summer. They come in a variety of beautiful colors including purple, red, pink striped, and golden. They can be eaten raw, boiled, or roasted and taste great when paired with cheese, added to salads, made into a slaw, or used in smoothies. Because of their natural sweetness, they even work well in certain dessert recipes.
In addition to the beetroot, beet greens are actually completely edible and rich in nutrients including beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. They taste similar to Swiss chard and can be used interchangeable in recipes so be sure not to throw them away.
Besides the role beetroot plays in weight loss, it may help to decrease inflammation. Although far from conclusive, research suggests beetroot supplementation holds promise as a future strategy to at least help manage some of the symptoms of inflammation in cancer. In one human study, it was shown that both cooked beets and beetroot juice were able to lower levels of inflammatory markers in people with high blood pressure.
Make beets part of your healthy weight, anti-inflammatory eating plan.
TRY THESE DELICOUS BEET RECIPES
Refreshing Strawberry Ginger Beet Sorbet makes the perfect dessert on a hot summer day.
This Roasted Beet Salsa can be eaten with tortilla chips, over a taco salad, or served on top of fish.
If you’d prefer not to turn on the oven to roast beets, you can steam or boil them.
Prepare these Sautéed Beet Greens in about 15 minutes for the perfect side dish.
Naturally sweet, this Beet, Apple, Lemon + Spinach Smoothie is a nutrient-packed thirst quencher.
Lorraine
