Red Beets

This is the perfect season for red beets. I love the sweet taste  and do not have any special knowledge on the beet so I decided to study it on the web for more information.

Wikipedia is always very informative. 

Hubpages was good for the nutritional information:

Red Beet is unique for its high levels of anti-carcinogens and its very high carotenoid content. Red beets are high in carbohydrates and low in fat and it is an excellent source of folic acid. It is loaded with antioxidant that helps the body against heart disease, certain cancer especially colon cancer and even birth defects. Betacyanin is the pigment that gives beets their red color; this pigment is absorbed into the blood corpuscles and can increase the oxygen-carrying ability of the blood by up to 400 per cent. Don't throw away the green leafy tops as they can be cooked like spinach and are also rich in beta-carotene, folic acid, chlorophyll, potassium, vitamin C, and iron.

Health Benefits of Red Beets:

• Beet root is a traditional treatment used for leukemia. Beet root contain an amino acid betaine which has an anti cancer properties. Red beet therapy, consisting of consumption of approximately two pounds of raw, mashed beets daily, has been favorably reported for cases of leukemia and tumors (includes cancer). Research also shows that beet juice can help inhibit the development of colon and stomach cancer.
• It is believed that red beets when used eaten regularly may help against certain oxidative stress-related disorders.

• The fiber in red beets help reduced serum cholesterol by 30 to 40%.
• Beets can help in normalizing blood pressure.
• Beets helps to keep the elasticity of arteries, when consumed regularly it can help prevent varicose veins.
• The iron content of red beets, though not high but is of the finest quality that makes it a powerful cleanser and builder of blood. This is the reason why beets is very effective in treating many ailments caused by toxic environment and surrounding.
• Beet root is recommended for pregnant women because it contain folic acid that can help lower the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects in newborn infants.
• Beet juice helps stimulate the function of liver cells and protect the liver and bile ducts.
• Beet juice is highly alkaline which makes it effective in the treatment of acidosis.
• Drinking beets regularly can help relieve constipation.
• Beet juice and carrot juice when combined is excellent in the healing gout, kidney and gall bladder problem.
• Red beets can also help in the following problems; Headaches, toothaches, dysentery, lumbago, skin problems, menstrual problems, etc.
• Important things to know when taking Red Beets:
  • Beetroot juice is very powerful, don't take too much of it if your body is not yet accustomed to it, it is advised to slowly increased the amount from ½ medium size beet root to 1 whole a week.
  • Beet juice is so powerful that it you may feel dizzy during cleansing, this discomfort is normal as toxins are being eliminated. It is advised to drink plenty of water to help in the elimination of toxin. 

 I found another post from Dr Kim that I like:


I'm constantly on the lookout for recipes that call for raw red beets, as these root vegetables contain a variety of nutrients that can help prevent heart disease and certain types of cancer, especially colon cancer. Red beets are also rich in B vitamins, including folate, which makes them useful for preventing birth defects.

This past weekend, I was pleasantly surprised to find a raw red beet salad recipe in a book called Jamie's Dinners: The Essential Family Cookbook, written by celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver. Jamie's recipe calls for horseradish, something that I am not a fan of, so I tweaked it a bit and came up with a mix of ingredients that worked for me.

Please note: The cancer-fighting pigment that gives beets their rich red color is called betacyanin. If you eat red beets on a regular basis and notice a red tinge to your urine or stools, there is no need to worry, as this simply indicates that your body is receiving plenty of a good thing.

Enjoy the many health benefits of the following raw red beet salad recipe:

Ingredients:

Small bunch of red beets, washed and peeled
Large handful of chopped flat-leaf parsley
Extra-virgin olive oil
Fresh lemon or lime juice
Sea salt and pepper

Directions:

Use a vegetable peeler or a mandolin vegetable slicer to transform the bulky beets into really thin slices.

Add parsley. Then add extra-virgin olive oil, lemon or lime juice, and sea salt and pepper to taste. Give this salad a good toss, and enjoy it as a nutritious side dish to a hearty bowl of soup.

Note: I also tried making this salad with a bed of crisp romaine lettuce and avocado slices. The greens and avocado added substantial volume, and actually combined really well with the beets. If you're a bit apprehensive about eating a salad that is mostly raw red beets, I encourage you to add some romaine lettuce and/or avocado to the mix.

Please note: As long as you don't use salt, this recipe is suitable for the Full Body Cleanse program.

This is my recipe , a simple one... 

I clean the fresh beets with the best vegetable brush from Iris Hantverk ( you can buy them on Un Momento Nordico E-shop ).

Place them in a pan , sprinkle some sea salt and add about 1 cm of water so they do not burn. I bake them until soft for about 45 minutes, depending on size.

They are great to eat simple with Olive oil. 

The most tender leaves are tossed into the salad and the larger goes into the Smoothie.

PS. I started the Dr Junger CLEAN cleansing again. And will do it by the book for 3 weeks.

 Love, Gunn