What to Do with Red Beets – Real Food Basics

Beets are high in antioxidants and disease-fighting phytonutrients which act as cancer-preventive and are anti-inflammatory to the body. Beets are also, like carrots, high in the antioxidant lutein which promotes overall eye health and help protect the eyes from macular degeneration and cataracts.

But believe it or not, it’s actually the beet greens that have the highest amount of antioxidants, so if you can find red beets with their greens still attached; buy that! You can use the greens in a salad, add to a stir-fry, make a green drink in a blender together with water, ginger and lemon, or add some in a smoothie. The actual beet root still is high in antioxidants, but the beet greens are even higher, so don’t throw away the beet greens like I used to do years ago! 😉

Beets are one of the more nitrate-rich vegetables out there, which have shown to positively benefit cholesterol levels. The organic nitrates found in beets are also beneficial for boosting energy and performance, which is why red beet juice can be used as an energy drink before, during, or after a workout.

What to make with red beets: