Beets have been around for thousands of years. Our ancestors realized the health benefits of beets and these benefits stay true today. Beets come in a variety of colors. Recently I received golden beets from our weekly CSA. Golden beets tend to be a bit sweeter than the common red beets. Golden beets also offer a less earthy taste than the traditional red beets.
Golden beets pack a nutritional 1,2 punch. Golden beets are heart healthy. These golden balls are also natural kidney and body cleansers. Not only are they good to keep your heart functioning and give your body a cleanse they are also rich in many vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C, lycopene, beta-carotene and flavonoids to name a few.
It’s a wonder why more people aren’t family with this golden treasure. While there are many different ways to cook these I prefer to roast them. Below is a great roasting technique.
Roasting beets – Start with the freshest and firmest organic Golden beet roots, or any color beets, you can find. Cut off the green tops and save for another cooking use. Rinse dirt and debris off the roots by rubbing with your hands under cool water. Remove any skin that looks too tough to eat, but leave on as much of the skin as possible to keep essential nutrients (to avoid pesticides, peel entirely if the beets are not organic). Leave whole, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in aluminum foil, and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for up to 1 hour. Check beets as they cook for when they are ready, whether you like them cruncher or softer. After the beets cool down enough for you to touch them, slice or dice them into salads like this Kale and Golden Beet Salad or grill beets to make this delicious Grilled Beet Salad with Almonds and Dried Cranberries.
Juicing beets – Adding a beet to your morning juice is an excellent way to cleanse your body of toxin build-up. Beet juice is a wonderful tonic for the liver and works as a purifier for the blood. If you are new to juicing beets, start slowly by adding one small beet to your juice or half of a large one. You can even clean and juice the greens. Good fruit and vegetables to combine with Golden beets in a juice are carrots, lemons, cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, pears, ginger, and mint. Mix and match to create a new favorite fresh juice.
References
Ancient Golden Treasure: Beets
