BEETROOT | One of my favourite ingredients to blend. Nice added to a fruit & veg juice with carrot and ginger, a smoothie or on its own with a squeeze of lemon. Personally I like it in a ‘beet-berry’ smoothie – with blueberries, strawberries and oranges.
Full of the good stuff, if your palate can stand it, the beetroot is a vegetable that's not to be missed in your diet. Picked from the ground, the beetroot has a very earthy flavour. Its outside skin is rough in texture and it’s inside pallor is a striking, deep red.
As an athlete, I’m particularly interested in its workout benefits. A recent study has shown that by drinking beetroot juice after exercise helps reduce muscle soreness and helps muscles to recover. That's nature working at its best! It's loaded with health benefits; rich in nitrates that act as a great natural vasodilator. If that's not enough to get it in you, read on for some more motives.
For the pregnant woman – beets are great for you as they are an invaluable source of B vitamin folate – which aids in spinal column development of the infant. Chop it, bake it, blend it!
For the young at heart - This veg is also loaded with Vitamin C, which in itself has a plethora of benefits – collagen building, iron absorbing and immunity boosting – hello younger looking skin!
For the energy seekers - beets contain a significant amount of carbohydrates that provides fuel for energy and prolonged sports activities. These are the natural building blocks of energy metabolism, and beets provide them without any of the negative side effects of many other carbohydrate-heavy foods.
Keep your eyes peeled for the beetroot additions to the blended menu. Coming to Hong Kong very soon!
Jonny
