Why are beets good for you?

Beets for Iron Health

Blood red and looking like a badly shaped tennis ball with a tail, beets are not high on the favorite foods list. They do show up in Aunt Mabel’s family reunion salad (which ranks right up there with fruitcake), but they are not found very often on dinner plates. Let’s face it, beets are a beaten vegetable.

To beat the beaten image, here are some unknown health benefits of the Beet.

The Facts: One cup of raw beets is high in carbohydrates and low in fat. It contains phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium, as well as fiber, vitamins A and C, niacin, and biotin. Beets contain folic acid, which is recommended for pregnant women because it may lower the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects in newborn infants.

Heartbeet City

The Facts: According to John Heinerman, in the Encyclopedia of Healing Juices, beets (and beet juices) are a blood-building herb that detoxifies blood and renews it with minerals and natural sugars.

Dr. H.C.A. Vogel, in The Nature Doctor, States that beet juice contains betaine, which stimulates the function of liver cells and protects the liver and bile ducts. Recent studies point to betaine as contributing to the prevention of coronary and cerebral artery diseases.

Beeting the Big C

The Facts: Early research in Hungary indicated that beet juice and its powdered form slowed the development of tumors. Heinerman reports that Alexander Ferenczi, M.D., observed beets aiding cancer patients and performed studies that indicated that beets may help animals fight cancer.

Carrot juice is often used as a "base" juice in juice combinations, as its natural sweetness often masks unpleasant tastes. Many people mix carrot juice with beet juice for liver health.