With their colorful exteriors, beets can certainly brighten up any dinner plate.
But they dont skimp on substance, either.
And good news if youre a beet beginner: Theyre more versatile than you may think too.
ilietus/Getty Images/Amanda K Bailey
From salads to smoothies, there are actually tons of ways to add the veggie to your meals.
Theyre good for your digestion.
Besides keeping you full, fiber can also help your digestive system hum along a little better.
Read: less risk ofconstipation.
(Just be aware that theres a chance the pigments in beets mightturn your poop and pee red.
This is called beeturia, and its usually nothing to worry about.)
Fiber plays other important roles too.
How you prep your beets matters a lot, though, according to Dr. Durward.
Theyre high in antioxidants, which can have bodywide benefits.
Take betalains, for example, according to Van Eck.
Another important feature of antioxidants: their anti-inflammatory properties.
Beets might take your workout to the next leveland help you feel better afterward.
The effects of beetroot juice just may extend to athletic performance.
Dietary nitrates in the beets could be responsible for these exercise benefits, Dr. Durward says.
When those compounds are ingested, they can eventually be converted to nitric oxide.
They might help reduce your blood pressure too.
So how does this work?
What are some ways to work beets into your diet?
Plus, taking in too many nitrates could be harmful too.
Pushing past the recommended daily limit could allow potentially cancer-causing compounds to form, according to a 2021review.
Instead, think about how you’re free to work the root vegetable into your everyday meals.
Despite what you might think, borschtthe iconic Ukrainian soupisnt your only option.
Shredded or pickled beets make a delicious addition to salads or sandwiches, Van Eck says.
She likes to meal-prep hers in advance so theyre ready to go at lunchtime.
And cooked beets can be just as tasty as raw ones.
