Good quality, fresh beetroots should have their greens intact. The greens should be fresh-looking with no signs of spoilage. The beetroot should be firm, smooth, and a vibrant red-purple, not soft, wrinkled or dull in colour.

Avoid beets that have spots, bruises or soft, wet areas, all of which indicate spoilage. Shriveled or flabby should also be avoided as these are signs that the roots are aged, tough and fibrous.

Beets are also an excellent source of folate and a very good source of manganese, potassium, and copper. They are also a good source of dietary fibre, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin C, iron, and vitamin B6.

Beetroot fibre has been shown to increase the level of antioxidant enzymes in the body, as well as increase the number of white blood cells, which are responsible for detecting and eliminating abnormal cells.

Beets are also one of the richest sources of glutamine, an amino acid, essential to the health and maintenance of the intestinal tract.

·         Beets are nature’s Viagra. Beets contain high amounts of boron, which is directly related to the production of human sex hormones.

·         Beets are high in many vitamins and minerals. Potassium, magnesium, fiber, phosphorus, iron; vitamins A, B & C; beta-carotene, beta-cyanine; folic acid. Beets are particularly beneficial to women whom are pregnant, as the vitamin B and iron are very beneficial to new growth cells during pregnancy and replenishing iron in the woman’s body.

·         Beets cleanse the body. They are a wonderful tonic for the liver, works as a purifier for the blood, and can prevent various forms of cancer.

·         Beets help your mental health. Beets contain betaine, the same substance that is used in certain treatments of depression. It also contains trytophan, which relaxes the mind and creates a sense of well-being, similar to chocolate. Beets can also lower your blood pressure.

·         Beets are used as a stomach acid tester. If you are eating a lot of beets or beet juice, and your pee turns pink, guess what? You have low stomach acid. Pee still clear? Ratchet it up and get juicing (use the greens too)! Nutritionists use beets and beet juice to test stomach acid levels.

·         Beets are a high source of energy. At the same time they are low in calories and high in sugar (although the sugar is released into your system gradually, as opposed to chocolate).

Cut the greens from the roots, leaving an inch of stem attached, and place the different parts in separate plastic bags and refrigerate. Beet roots will last at least a month, but greens should be used  greens within three or four days.

Cut the majority of the greens and their stems from the beet roots, so they do not pull away moisture away from the root. Leave about two inches of the stem attached to prevent the roots from "bleeding." Do not wash beets before storing. Place in a plastic bag and wrap the bag tightly around the beets, squeezing out as much of the air from the bag as possible, and place in refrigerator where they will keep for up to 3 weeks.

Beetroot til ki sabzi

Beetroot soup

Beetroot and dil salad

Beetroot, cucumber and tomato raita

Cutlet