Beets have only been appreciated as fat-fighting root vegetables in modern times. Before that, the beet greens were favored, most likely for their medicinal qualities, over the actual beet. Maybe back then, people were put off by the red urine and stools that sometimes appear after eating beets; some people inherit an inability to break down the red pigment in beets, so it passes right through their systems and is excreted. It's harmless enough, but you may want to lay off beets a few days before your next doctor's visit.
Beets contain a wealth of fiber -- half soluble and half insoluble. Both types play roles in fighting fat. These colorful root vegetables contain powerful nutrient compounds that help protect against heart disease, birth defects and certain cancers, especially colon cancer. Learn more about why beets are one of the most attractive vegetables in the diet garden.
Health Benefits
Beets are particularly rich in folic acid, calcium, and iron. Consuming adequate amounts of folic acid during the childbearing years is a must for women; a deficiency in this critical nutrient has been linked to neural-tube birth defects. But this important vitamin is critical to lifelong health for men, women, and children, because long-term deficiencies have been linked to heart disease and cervical cancer, too.
| Nutritional Values Beets, Fresh, Cooked |
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