Beets Make You Unstoppable

Beets are so nutritious and healthy, you feel energized and unstoppable when you include them in your diet!

For years they were grown for their leaves until the Romans discovered the sweet taste of the root of this plant.

There are several varieties and sizes of this veggie. The baby beets (bunched) are the quickest to cook and more tender.

Available year round, peak season is from June to December.

It's better to cook them whole to get the best out of the nutrients and flavor. If you cook them yourself, cut the green tops off, wash them and wrap them in foil. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes depending on size. After they cool you can peel the skins.

For baby beets, you can steam them whole for approximately 30 minutes, and then peel and slice them.

Nutritionally they provide protein, fiber, folate, potassium and Vitamin C.

Eliminate Stress
Beets contain uridine, a compound that helps nerve cells maintain healthy levels of nor-epinephrine and dopamine. These boost your mood and help prevent stress and anxiety.

Boosts Metabolism
They are packed with betaine, a phytonutrient, which enables your body to convert fat into energy. Betaine also stimulates the production of bile, a fluid that flushes toxins out of your body.

Heart Health
This veggie contains betacyanin which promotes the breakdown of triglycerides in the blood and reduces the risk of artery clogs.

They also contain insoluble fiber and beta-carotene of which both play a role in reducing cancers, asthma, and atherosclerosis.

Healthy Recipe - Beet Soup

Rinse and drain the beets from two cans (14.5 ounces each), chop one cup and set aside.

In a saucepan, boil the remaining beets over high heat.

Add two cans of vegetable broth, one small onion diced, and one clove of garlic, peeled and diced. Boil for 4 to 5 minutes longer.

In a food processor, puree the mixture for one minute. Add the chopped beets and serve at room temperature or cold.

Vegetable Harvest by Patricia Wells brings the flavor and techiques of French cuisine into your kitchen.

Her recipes include vegetables, nuts, herbs, furits, and legumes.

She includes nutritional information for each recipe and they are very easy to follow and do.

If you like potatoes, one of my favorites is Lemon Roasted Potatoes with Bay Leaves.

The Vegetarian Family Cookbook by Nava Atlas is an excellent resource for great tasting vegetable recipes.

Because it is a vegetarian cookbook, you'll find exceptional recipes that are simple and easy to prepare and the ingredients are found at your local market.

If you have children and need some help getting them to eat their veggies, this is very kid friendly.

She has some great recipes for kid's breakfast meals and great lunches you can pack for them.

"Achieving A Healthy Lifestyle For Women's Health and Fitness"