As Earth Day approaches, I am reminded to reconnect with the Earth, submerge my core in what lies beneath the dirt, and get back to my roots. Well, let’s not “beet” around the bush—let’s explore, yes, beets.
Grown from bulbs planted in soil, beets are a nutrient-dense food, to say the least. Chioggia beets are a family favorite because of their striped flesh, but we always appreciate a variety. Raw beet shavings make our salads robust and blooming with color, especially when we add beet leaves for the extra punch! Beets are also beautiful. They can be white, golden, striped, or red.
Beets have been rooted in my family’s medicinal food routine for many years, but as of late, they have been presenting themselves in a new fashion—I have been craving this beet-licious juice concoction at Juice Core called Beetle Juice. It’s made with red beets, celery, green apple, ginger, kale, lemon, and parsley. Its 100% organic, raw, cold-pressed perfection has an instant grounding effect.
Recently, I met the owner of Garden Goddess Ferments while exiting Juice Core with my freshly juiced bottle of ruby red greatness. I often see the Green Goddess booth at my local farmer’s market, and always stock up on a variety of her fermented kraut jars. But this day, I was reminded of her fermented beet drink, otherwise known as beet kvass. Pick Up The Beet is a bountiful beet tonic that is not only tasty, but spoke to my roots. I now drink 2 ounces every morning, and instantly feel submerged in the minerals of this nutrient-dense tonic that’s replenishing my blood and good bacteria. It’s undeniable—the universe was telling me I need to kick up my beet!
According to Garden Goddess founder Suzette Smith, one jar of fermented veggies can replace over eight bottles of store-bought probiotics. Eating fermented foods daily is a great way to keep from getting sick and to build a strong immune system.
While beet kvass dates back to the 6th century, Americans in general have lost the ancient recipes that we are learning are good for us in many ways. Beet kvass is a fermented beet drink loaded with probiotics and all the benefits of the beet… without the sugar. The bacterias feed on the sugar of the vegetables and break down the food with lactic acid, creating a probiotic-rich environment, as well as manufacturing other nutrients not found in just the raw vegetable. Fermented foods are a great way to repopulate your gut!
In fact, did you know that your gut is Grand Central Station to your health? It’s the starting point for serotonin production, immunity strength, and energy levels. Brain fog, constipation, autoimmune, and inflammation all begin in the gut. You truly are what you eat, so choose your food wisely.
Suzette says it best, “You can’t get all your supplements in our typical daily diet, and you can’t supplement your way out of a bad diet. Eat fermented foods daily; it’s a matter of life and health.”
Beets provide a multitude of benefits. The red-veined green leaves of beets are nutrient-dense and provide vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K, as well as minerals like iron, potassium, calcium, sulfur, copper, chlorine, and silica.
Beets are believed to reduce your chance of getting cancer. They contain betacyanin, which assists in halting the growth of cancerous tumors by detoxifying the body of toxins. Beets’ bountiful blend of iron and antioxidants is also beneficial in reversing anemia.
And, who doesn’t love a liver detoxification?
The betaine in beets energizes the function of liver cells and works to protect the liver bile ducts. All the while, the fiber enhances the creation of detoxifying enzymes in the liver.
As our family is always incorporating healthy habits which parlay into mental stability, core strength, preventative care, and wellness, we never miss a beet. Optimal health is of utmost importance to us, so when we are traveling, the beet root powder by The Drs. Wolfson is our go-to for on-the-go. Heart Beet is an organic beetroot-based powder containing a unique blend of beetroot, beet and carrot juices, raw organic spinach leaf, and raw organic kale sprout concentrate sourced from the best organic farms. You can can find this powder at https://shop.thedrswolfson.com
From soil to soul, my health is complete when I pick up the beet!
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