Beets are highly nutritious and “cardiovascular health” friendly root vegetables. Certain unique pigment antioxidants in the root as well as in its top greens have found to offer protection against coronary artery disease and stroke Beets Nutrition Facts; lower cholesterol levels within the body, and have anti-aging effects.

Botanically, the tuberous root vegetable belongs in the Amarathaceae family, in the beta genus. Its scientific name is Beta vulgaris. Swiss chard is another member in the beta genus grown for its edible leaves Beets Nutrition Facts.

Selection and Storage:

When you are shopping in a store, look for raw beets that are fresh, firm with a shine, not too dry. It is still better if the beets contain leaves. If you are buying pre-cooked then the skin should be smooth, without black spots or cracks. Try to buy small beets as the large ones may contain more fibers Beets Nutrition Facts.

Storage:

Fresh, you can keep it for 3-4 days in the vegetable compartment of your refrigerator, enclosed in an airtight container Beets Nutrition Facts. Cut into slices or cubes, it can be kept frozen and for several months.

Preparation Methods:

To cook beetroots, first wash them in cold running water to remove the soil and dirt. Then plunge them in boiling water with its stems. Add a little bit of salt and vinegar. When it cools down you should be able to peel the skin Beets Nutrition Facts.

Ideas for Recipes:

When you buy raw beetroots, grate them finely and have it as appetizers with vinegar and olive oil or simply by adding salad sauce.
Pre-cooked beetroots are ideal for salad dressings.
You can also find them as pickles in stores and very popular in South American houses.
In Indian gastronomy,Beets Nutrition Facts it is used to prepare meat curry dishes. Beet juice is also a very popular healthy drink.

Some History:

The botanical name for the beet is Beta Vulgaris. Beets Nutrition Facts It belongs to the Amaranthaceous family. It is more commonly known as ‘beetroot’ or ‘garden beet’; a purple root vegetable. Beet is also cultivated as a leaf vegetable.Beets Nutrition Facts The different varieties of beet vegetables are:

Chard:

A green leafy vegetable commonly used in Mediterranean recipes. It is a highly nutritious leaf but its roots are not as nutritious.Beets Nutrition Facts Other common names are; spinach beet, Swiss chard, Silver beet, etc.

Sugar beet:

It is a plant whose tubers contain high quantity of sugar. It is commercially produced for the production of sugar and molasses Beets Nutrition Facts.

The beet has a long historical background for its cultivation, most probably, going back to the second millennium BC. According to history, the plant was used for the first time for domestic purpose along the Mediterranean region Beets Nutrition Facts. The beetroot was also used for medicinal purposes.

The first recipes were published around the second century. This is when a variety of cultivation was developed of red, white and yellow roots and of high nutritional quality.

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