SEEING RED

Red is such a powerful color. It’s no surprise the rubescent beetroot (beet) has potent benefits for the life force that course through our body red. Native to the Mediterranean and known as Beta vulgaris, beets have been used medicinally for centuries and became a desired culinary item by chefs in 1800 France.

The potent agents in this vegetable are:

• Antibacterial
• Antioxidant
• Tonic
• Cleansing, and
• Laxative properties.

Don’t discard the top leafy green. It too is nutritious; high in vitamin A and the enzyme betaine, which nourishes and strengthens the liver and gallbladder, as well as ease symptoms of depression. Beets are an excellent source of potassium and are cleansing for the liver, kidneys, and gallbladder. And to top it off, beets contain tryptophan, an amino acid which boosts serotonin in the brain, creating a sense of well-being.

A Superfood for Athletes

Beets have become a very popular Superfood and a regular part of athlete’s diets. Findings from recent studies show that beetroot juice can improve athletic performance, lower blood pressure, and increase blood flow.  This is because of the high amounts of nitrates found in beetroot juice. Nitrates improve athlete’s use of oxygen through improved blood vessel dilation, allowing blood flow to increase, and lowering oxygen required by muscles. In other words, oxygen use becomes more efficient, allowing athletes to improve performance, and speed.

With that said, why wouldn’t anyone want to include beets in their diet? I try to incorporate beet juice daily.  They’re nutritious cooked, steamed, sautéed, juiced and in smoothies. I could go on and on about beets, but I’m going to keep this post short and provide you with one of my favorite beet juice recipes.

Beet Berry Blast

Ingredients

1 cup of strawberries

1/2 cup of blueberries

1 large beetroot

2 large apples (prefer granny smith)

3 ice cubes

Preparation

1. Cut strawberries in half and place with blueberries into the juicer. Run the beet and apples through the juicer, and mix all the juice together.
2. Add ice and stir until chilled

The second option is to pour all the juice into a blender, add ice, blend until smooth, then serve.

Enjoy!!