Beet Information

Beets belong to the same family as chard and spinach, but the entire plant is edible...leaves, stems, and root.

Health Benefits
The root of the beet has long been used for medicinal purposes, primarily for disorders of the liver, given their stimulating effects on the liver's detoxification processes. Beets have also traditionally been valued as a blood tonic, good for anemia, the heart, and circulation. They purify the blood, alleviate constipation, and aid the liver. Beets have also been reported for their anti-cancer properties.
Beet roots are high in natural sugar, fiber, and folic acid. The greens have notable amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins A and C.

Uses
When boiling beet roots, leave the peel on, as well as the root tips and 1 inch of the stem to prevent the beets from "bleeding". The beets will easily peel after boiling. Also, cooking with acidic ingredients such as lemon juice or vinegar will brighten the beet color, while cooking with alkaline substances, such as salt, blunts their color. If possible, add salt to the dish at the end of cooking.

Beet Greens

• Sauteed, steamed
• Raw, as an additional green in a lettuce salad
  

Beet Roots

• Raw and grated in salads or as garnishes for soups
• Roasted or grilled with olive oil, salt and pepper
• Juiced! Tastes great combined with carrot and apple juice.
  
• Pickled
• Boiled
• Cooked in the popular Russian soup, borscht
• Combines well with the flavor of ground coriander

Storage
Fresh beets with the greens attached can be stored for three to five days in the refrigerator, but beets with the greens removed can be stored for two to four weeks. If you will be storing beets for longer than a couple of days, cut the majority of the greens and stems from the roots so they do not pull moisture away from the root. Leave about 1-2 inches of stem attached to the root. Store the unwashed greens in a separate perforated plastic bag, where they will keep fresh for about four days.

Special Note
Beet eaters may experience beeturia, a red or pink color in the urine or stool. It is a totally harmless condition. According to nutritionist Jeffrey Bland, pink urine might indicate an iron deficiency while magenta stool indicates adequate iron.