Beets are a super food! They are packed with nutrients, easy to prepare and affordable. They are also found in most super markets. My mother served beets weekly, when I was a child growing up. I have always heard that beets are healthy, but recently I found large beautiful beets at my local Global Foods market. I decided to do a little research of my own and see if they were worth a try. I finally purchased a steaming basket, which is necessary to do the job properly.
I used WebMD for my research. It turns our that beets contain compounds called betalains, which is where they get their red color. Betalains help reduce inflammation. So they may be helpful for inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other inflammatory conditions. (Betalains also turn our urine red so don’t be alarmed if this happens to you!) Beets also contain nitrates which have been shown to reduce high blood pressure. Studies have shown that the nitrates in beets also react with the mitochondria in our cells helping our bodies to produce more energy. Many athletes actually drink beet juice to improve their performance before a competition. Beets have two grams of fiber per serving, making them a great food for digestion. They are great sources of Vitamins A, C, Calcium, and Iron. Lastly, beets have a delicious sweet flavor. I steamed beets for dinner last night, and even my husband thought they were delicious. Below I have shared my recipe.
Steamed Beets:
- Beets, water, 1/2 tsp salt.
- Quarter beets and put into the bottom of a steamer basket
- Fill a pot with 1 inch water and salt.
- Put in beets and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Optional: Put lid on the pot.
- Simmer for 35 minutes.
- Remove beets and let cool. Peel and slice them.
We were taken aback at how delicious the beets were! We ate them with our dinner, then cubed and sliced left overs and put in our salads for our next meal. Delicious!!! They are sweet like a fruit, but with more nutrients. And yes, I highly recommend them!
Cathy Dee 