- Vitamin donor beet
- Good for blood and circulation.
- Digestion benefits
Beets might be one of the most underrated superfoods: the tuber tastes a little earthy, and when it is pickled, a bitter flavor is added. For this reason, children, but also many adults, often make faces when they hear beets. “But it’s a real shame, because beets aren’t the only thing very healthy, If prepared correctly, it also tastes very tasty,” says Klaus-Wilfried Meyer of the Association of German Chefs in Frankfurt. It is too often underestimated.
Beet for health: superfood for your blood
Beetroot has been around for a long time. “It has been known for about 6,000 years,” explains cookbook author Tanja Dusy from Munich. This round, fist-sized tuber probably comes from North Africa and was spread throughout Europe by the Romans. “That’s where its name comes from,” explains Dusy. “Beta” means “turnip” in Latin. That’s why it’s called beet root often too Red beet.
This tuber already existed centuries ago valuable vegetables with special healing properties acquaintance. According to home economics expert Inge Hebrank of the German Housewives’ Association in Sindelfingen, in the Middle Ages it was believed that beets were good for the blood due to their red color. This is already scientifically proven: beets contain abundant Folic acid, which is responsible for the formation of red blood cells. is. According to Dusy, 200 grams of beets cover 50 percent of the daily needs for folic acid.
In addition, beets also contain many other important substances, such as Calcium, potassium, magnesium, iodine, sodium and vitamin C.. “The dye also strengthens betanin, “The reason beets turn red is the immune system,” says Dusy. The tuber helps a lot, especially in the cold months. good against colds and flu-like infections. “In addition, beets contain substances that… trap free radicals and therefore as Protection against cancer apply.”
Beet: good for blood pressure and digestion.
Koch Meyer, who works as a nutritionist, cites other advantages: “It stimulates them Digestion and liver activity. turned on, works detoxifying and reduces blood pressure.” In fact, British scientists recently demonstrated that just half a liter of beet juice a day significantly reduces blood pressure. Experts agree positive effects of beets on the body – but the tuber can also be used with the Cancer prevention aid? We address this issue in a separate article.
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He Preparation options This extremely healthy tuber is diverse. Raw, for example, goes well with a herring salad or a Raw vegetable saladIt’s made with apples, walnuts, fresh herbs and oil, says author Dusy. “Beets are indispensable in special Russian soup borscht”, adds head cleaner Hebrank. To do this, grate the beet into small pieces and sauté lightly. “Together with beef, white cabbage and sour cream, it will be a great thing.” What is typical about this red soup is that it is cooked for a long time over low heat so that the flavor of the individual ingredients develops well. Finally, the borscht is refined with a little sour cream or fresh herbs such as dill and parsley.
You can also use beets boiled, steamed or baked Dusy recommends. “For example, you can place them unpeeled in boiling salted water, cover them, and simmer them for 30 to 45 minutes, depending on their size.” Once the tuber is soft, the skin is removed like a baked potato and the turnip is eaten with salt, pepper, butter or oil. “If you want, you can also mix it with sour cream and onion and puree everything,” says Dusy. “This goes very well as a side dish with fish.” Beetroot also tastes good with meat: “For example, I like it diced and sautéed in a pan with melted butter and thyme.” This gives the beet a great aroma.
Be careful when preparing beets
The beet stains a lot during preparation, That’s why you have to keep some things in mind. “It is always better to throw Gloves when handling beets,” advises Klaus-Wilfried Meyer of the German Cooks’ Association.
If you get stains on your hands, lemon juice can help. Splashes on white textiles should be removed as quickly as possible. hot water and soap To be removed. But don’t worry: you can also handle beets with your own hands. After Wash your hands a few times. the red tint has disappeared again.
“But above all you have to know that beets also It loses its dye when cut, That’s why it literally bleeds,” says Meyer. That’s why the tuber should only be scrubbed well and not peeled before cooking. “Also, the root is not cut, it’s just twisted.” If the beet is put in boiling water , he must not be allowed to be pricked, otherwise he will also bleed to death.
Cooking tip: always cook beets with skin on
Although beets are available all year round, in our latitudes it is mainly in winter Eaten. The beet season begins in autumn, at the end of September, and lasts until spring. “When buying fresh vegetables you have to make sure that the fruits have grown evenly and are not damaged,” says Gabriele Kaufmann from the information service on consumer protection, nutrition and agriculture. If there is still some green left in the beet, it should be crisp and not mushy.
“Beets last about a week in the refrigerator, However, it should not be stored above two degrees, otherwise it will quickly shrivel,” says the nutritionist. Beet should not be stored with vegetables or fruits containing ethylene, as this accelerates the aging process. “These are, for example, tomatoes, apples or bananas,” says Kaufmann.
Even when the beet season ends, in this country you can buy the tuber, pre-cooked and vacuum-packed. Of course, it is up to you whether you want this or prefer to wait for the fresh tuber to arrive at the beginning of the next season.
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Preview image: © AdobeStock/Olesia Bilkei