Beets are one of the vegetables that people simply love or hate.
However, beets are one of the healthiest vegetables and you should include them in your diet. Beets have been used for culinary and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. People usually eat beets cooked, but it is not the only way to eat this healthy vegetable. Can we eat them raw or we should always cook them?
In this article we will talk about eating beets raw, but first we will tell you something more about this vegetable.
More about Beets
Beet is a herbaceous plant that is widely cultivated as a food for humans and also for livestock. Also, beet is cultivated for processing into sugar. Beet is a tuberous root vegetable that belongs to the Amarathaceae family. These round and red little vegetable balls grow under the ground, so they come out wet and dirty. Beets have sweet earthy taste which goes perfectly with some sharper flavors, such as lemon. Some varieties of beets are grown for their leaves while some others are grown mainly for their nutritious root. Beets are rich in vitamins A and C and also in folic acid. Beets are high in fiber so they can improve digestion.
Also, beets are a great source of phytonutrients that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. As you can see, beets are highly nutritious vegetables. Due to their antioxidant and other properties, beets can protect against coronary artery disease and stroke and they can reduce cholesterol levels. Due tu its high folate content, beets can reduce the risk of neural-tube birth defects and fight against anemia.
Also, it is proved that regular consumption of beets has anti-agging effects. Beets are low in calories, so they can help in weight loss. Beets will provide you all the essential nutrients, so they should be a part of your diet. But, have you ever wondered how to eat beets? Is it good to eat them raw? Read along and you will find out soon.
Is It Safe To Eat Beets Raw?
Most people eat beets cooked or roasted, but it is completely safe to eat beets raw. Not only is it safe, but it is also very beneficial. Raw beets are low in fat and rich in antioxidants which fight against free radicals in the body. Also, raw beets can improve heart health and increase muscle power.
As we have already said, raw beets are rich in fiber, so they can improve intestinal health. You can grate or slice them up and serve them. Beets are wonderful to eat raw, so you have to try them. Beets are more delicious when they are raw. If they are cooked, beets can lose a bit of their flavor. You can prepare raw beet salads, but there are also many other ways to prepare this healthy vegetable. It is great to combine raw beets with a sprinkle of chile or lemon. But, before eating beets you have to remove its thin skin first. It is best to peel beets off while they are raw.
There are many ways to prepare beets. Apart from eating beets raw, you can also roast them until they become juicy and tender and you can eat them with goat cheese or with some spicy greens.
You can also add some hazelnuts to your beets and the taste will be great. You can make delicious salads with beets. You just need to toss them with barley, onions or feta cheese. Beets can also be used as ingredients in some delicious desserts, such as cocoa cake. Whichever way of preparing beets you choose, this vegetable will provide you a variety of health benefits.
When you are purchasing beets at the store, you should always choose bright and fresh ones with a firm texture and uniform size. You should avoid beets that are soft in texture or too large. You should choose organic beets, in order to get most of their health benefits. If you are buying the whole vegetable, you should wash beet greens thoroughly and rinse them in saline water for about half an hour. It is best to use beet greens while they are fresh. Beetroot can be stored in the fridge for a couple of weeks and it is usually eaten raw in salads.
Summary
As you have seen in this article, you can eat beets in many different ways. You can eat this vegetable raw, but you can also eat it roasted, pickled or as a dessert. Raw beets can be very delicious and you can safely eat them. You can peel them, grate them or add them to salads. There are many raw beet recipes. If you haven’t tried raw beets yet, we think it is time to make them a part of your diet.
