THEY JUST CAN’T BE BEET!!!!!!!!!!!!

Forget the old canned beets of your Grandparents day… slowly roasted beets make culinary aficionados drool. These delicious root vegetables belong to a family of superfoods that include chard, spinach and quinoa.

Like their cousins, beets pack a powerful punch for your health. Naturally high in disease-fighting phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, and trace minerals.  Beets are an excellent source of phytonutrients called betalains  which function as beneficial antioxidants and anti-inflammatory molecules.

Studies have shown that betalains help to protect the body from developing cancers such as lung, stomach, colon, and breast cancer, in addition to heart disease and many other illnesses too. The light or dark red, purple, crimson, or orange colors of beets is an excellent indicator of their high antioxidant content, similarly to how berries and other deeply colored fruits and vegetables provide the same disease-fighting molecules.

Due to their antioxidants, beets are also very helpful in protecting eye health. Beets are a source of lutein and zeaxanthin, which are two carotenoid phytonutrients -also found in other similarly colored vegetables like carrots and squash- that play a role in protecting eyes from developing conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts.

The highest supply of these antioxidants are actually found in the greens of the beets. Beet greens contain more leutein and zeaxanthin than the purple beet roots themselves, but even the roots provide a good source, especially golden (orange or yellow colored) beets.

The Betaine and choline in beets help regulate inflammation in the cardiovascular system, bring cholesterol levels to a healthy balance, and reduce high blood pressure.

Catch the Beet and Have a Healthful Day!!!!