beets

Did you know that…

In many holistic, integrative, and Eastern traditions, beets are believed to be an excellent liver tonic and blood purifier. Beets get their red color from a compound called betacyanin, which is a potent cancer fighter. According to yoga nutritional therapy, women can benefit from eating beets because they help replenish iron lost in the blood during menstrual cycle. Beets contain an important source of betaine and folate. These two nutrients work synergistically to reduce potentially toxic levels of homocysteine, a naturally occurring amino acid that can be harmful to blood vessels, thereby contributing to the development of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and peripheral vascular disease (reduced blood flow to the legs and feet). Beets are also loaded with potassium, weighing in at a whopping 528mg for two beets. They’ve also got magnesium and a tiny bit of vitamin C. The leaves are even higher in nutritional value than the roots, especially in calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C.

-Bowden, Jonny. The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. Fair Winds Press