Beets are a wonderful complement to spring greens - bright, grounding, both sweet and bitter, so possessing qualities supportive to all doshas in different preparations.

My favorite way to enjoy beets “cooks” with acid (lemon juice) - simply grate and add a squeeze or two of lemon - quick and delish!

Recipe:

• 1 beet

• 1 lemon wedge

• Grater

Grate beet onto plate. Squeeze lemon over it. Enjoy!

Why Beets are Great for You

Beets contain alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and other antioxidants in high concentrations, as well as B vitamins, Calcium and Iron as well as great fiber. Not only does this allow the root to bind to bile in your intestine and escort the bile - and what it attaches to, more importantly - out of the body. Often bile and it’s inclusions, including triglycerides, are merely recycled through the blood back into the liver.

Since our bodies are liquefying and burning fat more easily with the increased light and warmth, this leads to naturally higher triglyceride rates in the Spring. Helping our bodies excrete all they can is a great idea!

ALA and Blood Sugar

The ALA in beets is blood sugar balancing, probably accounting for this effect despite beets being high in natural sugar. ALA is great for your skin and is supportive for the nervous system.

Plant Based Nitrates and Cardiovascular Health

Beets are also high in plant based nitrates, which function differently from those in packaged meats and are supportive of nitric oxide production (also helped through nose breathing and brahmari breath) which results in vasodilation and is one of the most important nutrients for blood vessel health, leading to performance enhancement, cognitive improvement and blood pressure lowering.

Enjoy this simple, quick beet salad with any meal and let me know how you like it!