Have you ruled out beets because of the “high sugar” content?
Maybe you avoid/limit beets because you’re not convinced of their flavor, or some nutritionist a long time ago told you to eliminate them. But I wanted to let you know that by cutting beets out of your diet, you’re actually missing out on all their awesome, healthy-boosting properties.
Yes they contain natural sugars (like carrots and sweet potatoes) but as long as you balance them out in your diet with a ton of other lower-sugar vegetables, you’re good to go! (Instead, to lower the carb and sugar content of your meals, focus on eliminating all refined grains and processed sweets). But unless they just don’t sit well for you, don’t skimp out on these flavorful, nutrient-packed veggies!
And actually, beets can help you stay slim, have balanced hormones, more energy, better poop, and more!
Beets are relatively low in calories while being packed with nutrients, including: fiber, iron, B-vitamins (including folate), potassium, magnesium and vitamin C.
They’ve been known to help with multiple health issues including: relieving constipation, lowering high blood pressure, boosting energy and athletic performance (improving cardiorespiratory endurance and overall efficiency), supporting mental health and improving blood flow.
And I personally love beets most for their DETOX supporting properties. They help boost your liver’s ability to break down and eliminate toxins from your body, get rid of excess estrogen (if/when that’s an issue), and help cleanse your blood.
Plus, they contain high levels of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents that studies show may help reduce the risk of some cancers.
Best way to eat beets?
Make baked Beet Chips (thinly slicing beets and roasting at 300 F with a drizzle of olive oil or coconut oil and a pinch of sea salt). I like to make beet chips and kale chips simultaneously and eat a bit of each so I’m not overdoing on the natural sugars from the beets.
Make fresh cold-pressed green (or red!) juice, using beets instead of fruit. I like to juice celery, cucumber, romaine (or other leafy green), parsley or cilantro, ginger, lemon and tons of beets! If you need it sweeter, add carrots, green apple and/or oranges. (See recipe below!)
Add shredded/grated raw beets to any green salad for a delicious added crunch (I like to mix shredded beets, shredded carrots, shredded lettuce and other leafy greens, quinoa, chickpeas, avocado and tahini dressing, for example, for an awesome detoxifying colorful salad)
Add steamed beets to hummus and blend to make a “Beet Hummus”
Make a roasted beet, arugula, walnut (or pecan) and goat cheese Salad - tossed with a balsamic and extra virgin olive oil dressing
Add them to your green smoothie. Try my “valentines” special Beet Berry Ginger Smoothie
Use them to make healthier desserts like my Chocolate Beet Cupcakes (super delicious and kid-friendly!)
Use them to make a creamy warming soup. Try my winter-fave Beet, Leek and Hemp Soup
Sauté the leaves (aka beet greens) as you would kale or collard greens (I chop up the stems and leaves. I saute some minced garlic and onion in olive oil, add the chopped beet green stems, then add leaves, and toss with salt/pepper to taste and an extra drizzle of EVOO at the end!)
Lastly, I’m sharing my Hormone Balancing Juice recipe using beets:
Hormone Balancing Juice
Ingredients:
1 medium beet
2 stalks celery (with leaves)
½ cucumber
½ bunch of cilantro leaves (about 1 cup)
1 small lemon
½ green apple
1 inch piece of ginger
Instructions: Carefully wash and rinse all your ingredients, cutting into thick slices. Juice all ingredients together and enjoy! And leftovers can be stored in fridge and consumed preferably in less than 2 days.