Beet Varieties! Did You Know?

Did you know the health benefits of beets are many? Beets can help prevent heart disease, birth defects, and cancers. Beets can help lower cholesterol and reduce inflamation.

Nutritionally speaking, the health benefits of golden beets (as well as other interesting varieties such as white beets and peppermint beets) are the same, or nearly the same as the health benefits of red beets. The biggest difference is that golden beets tend to have a milder, sweeter flavor than the more earthy red beets. And while golden beet juice stains just as much as red beet juice, the lighter color is less noticeable. The biggest difference is that red beets contain anthycyanins (a beneficial flavonoid).

Folate is one of the most important nutrients in preventing birth defects, and one of the health benefits of beets is that they’re packed with folate. Beets are also a good source of manganese, potassium, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus, fatty acids, amino acids, and fiber.

Beet greens are edible, with a slightly bitter flavor that is similar to chard. The look and texture of beet greens are also similar to chard, and are packed with nutrients as well.

While the health benefits of beets can be diminished with cooking, they are still a nutritional powerhouse. If you don’t like raw beets, try only cooking them lightly.