Friday, April 20, 2018

To Beet or not to Beet


Today I am blogging about beets.  
I decided when I was a kid that I did not like beets.  
I think I tried a squishy canned beet at a salad bar and that was that.  
Beets where banished! I still don’t like them that way. Luckily I don’t think my parents liked them either because I don’t recall them ever being served at home. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I even tried that beet until I was in my teens. 
Why does it matter?
It matters because I thrive when eating plants…fruits and vegetables. 
Therefore, not liking most vegetables does not work for me.  
Choosing a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle without eating vegetables leads to malnourishment. Been there. Done that! Choosing any lifestyle without vegetables leads to malnourishment!  I have found that the reason I basically did not like most vegetables was that I had no idea how to prepare them! I now like pretty much all vegetables thanks to learning how to prepare them.
Beets, in particular, are surprisingly delicious when highlighted with fresh lemon.
I have some beet most days because I add a little to my green drink. 
I don’t actually taste it in my green drink.  I add it for the benefits.  
Beets are great for the detoxification of organs, especially the liver, digestive system, and kidneys.  I feel detoxification to be tremendously important, as eliminating toxins is paramount to health.  A body that cannot eliminate toxins becomes unhealthy. 
Beets are also good for your heart, lowering artery-damaging inflammation and helping blood flow throughout your body. Beet greens are a good source of lutein which helps protect the health of your eyes and nerve tissues. I add the greens to my green drink as well. Beets also are a great source of fiber. There’s more, but that’s enough for me!
This time of year I like roasted beets finished with lemon to bring out the sweetness.  In the Summer I make a shredded beet salad with or without carrots and or apple and finished with fresh lemon.  Shredded beets sautéed and finished with lemon are excellent too.  I prefer red beets.  I find the white beets to be more earthy in their flavor.  I hope you will try some beets and enjoy them as well as the benefits to your health.

If you are in the neighborhood I am offering a beet demo and tasting on Saturday, April 28th. Click the link below for details.