King of Digestion: 8 Interesting Facts About Beets

Due to its high sugar content (with a particularly high glycemic index), beets tend to be avoided by many. However, red beets offer numerous health benefits that are worth knowing and utilizing. Although in our region they are more commonly purple, the beet family includes other varieties such as white and yellow beets, among others. While it is a tough root, beets are quite sensitive to bruising, especially during cooking.

Beet cultivation initially began around the Mediterranean basin, making it a vegetable particularly suitable for our human climate and one of the healthiest dietary choices for us. Here are some facts that will quite literally do your 'heart good':

1. Beets contain components like dietary fibers and minerals, which help maintain heart health and prevent chronic diseases. 

2. Beets are 'experts' in detoxifying, neutralizing harmful molecules, and filtering out toxins through the urine. 

3. All parts of the beet—both the root and the leaves—are edible. 

4. The beet root contains a large amount of folic acid, magnesium, copper, potassium, and vitamins A (responsible for skin, eye, digestive and urinary system, reproductive health, and more) and K (responsible for blood clotting processes, bone building, and blood vessel construction). 

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5. The antioxidants in beets significantly reduce the risk of developing various types of cancer.

6. Beets are rich in dietary fibers that not only provide a lasting feeling of fullness but also contribute to the proper functioning of the digestive system. 

7. Beet juice greatly aids in improving blood circulation in the body, and doctors highly recommend it as a stimulant for physical activity. 

8. Studies in the last decade have found that drinking beet juice before physical exercise significantly improves performance, as the body is able to utilize its oxygen resources more effectively and efficiently.