We have long known the benefits of beets for the skin, eyesight and cardiovascular health … But it is above all for the positive action of this root vegetable on the liver that we decided to put beetroot. honor today.
IDENTITY RECORD
Name : Beet
Family: Amaranthaceae
Scientific name : Beta vulgaris
Varieties: Beetroot (vegetable), Burpee Golden, Crapaudine, Ronde de Detroit, Plate from Egypt, Chioggia
Caloric value: 19 kcal / 100 g
High season: May – September (calendar)
Producers: Russia, France, United States
France: North, Ile-de-France, Normandy
Cultivated for its fleshy roots, the beet is a vegetable very rich in fiber and antioxidants. These elements help the liver to remain in good condition and facilitate the body detoxification. It helps maintain good intestinal and digestive function.
The 3 main types of beets
Beets are available all year round. The best season to enjoy it fresh is summer and autumn. Today three main types of beets are cultivated:
- the fodder beet, intended for animal feed,
- the sugar beet, used for the manufacture of sugar or alcohol,
- and the vegetable beet that we eat, red in color and the leaves of which are also edible.
Beets are very rich in carbohydrates, in fibers and in protein, it has several vitamins including: vitamins A, B, C, E and some trace elements such as magnesium, the potassium and the sodium.
Its red color is due to another component, betalaine, which not only has properties anti-inflammatory but which also proves to be invaluable in detoxifying the organism.
The health benefits of beets
And we haven’t done the tour yet! Beets offer many other benefits for general health:
- It contains a lot of iron, an essential element in the training of Red cells and to oxygenation of the blood.
- It regulates the blood pressure due to its nitrate content.
- Beet lowers bad cholesterol levels in the body.
- It is allowed to proteger and maintain the heart.
- Beet stimulates and strengthens the immune system.
- She increases libido.
Choosing the right beets
When you want to buy a beet, you can choose it firm, with the skin still wet and provided with leaves. His skin should be smooth and without spots. The beetroot is the most used.
Whether raw or cooked, it can be stored in the crisper of the refrigerator or in an airtight container for about 4 to 5 days. When cut into slices, it can also be frozen and can be stored for several months.
Beetroot salad with pistachios
Ingredients
2 bunches of beets, 100 g of crumbled goat cheese, 250 ml of roasted and chopped pistachios, 1/4 of a head of fennel (the green stems), 2 lemons, 20 ml of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Preperation
- Wash the beets, taking care to keep the roots and stems intact.
- Heat the oven to 230 ° C and spread the beets on a baking sheet and sprinkle witholive oil, salt and pepper.
- Place the beetroot bulbs directly in the oven, leaving the stems on the baking sheet so as not to burn them.
- Bake 30 minutes or until the bulbs are tender and the stems are toasted.
- Serve directly on the baking sheet and add the sliced bulbs and garnish the dish with goat cheese, pistachios, and fennel.
- You can sprinkle it with a drizzle of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
In conclusion
Beets are a vegetable that not only improves liver health but also has many health benefits. We can therefore consume it without moderation.
And you, how do you prefer beets, cooked or raw? Tell us in the comments.
