When it comes to vegetables we love to hate, beets probably fall somewhere near the top of that list. Whether eaten fresh, canned or stewed beets don’t get the respect they deserve as a healthy and nutritious vegetable that can help with weight loss.
I too, was a hater of beets, but with my ‘try anything twice’ rule, I was forced to eat them two ways. The first time confirmed my belief on the yuckiness of beets, the second time however I wasn’t quite as solid, especially when I was informed of beet nutrition facts.
Keep reading to find out what I found out about beet nutrition facts.
Major Nutrients Found In Beets
Beets are low in several things that you need to be low for successful weight loss; calories (just 58 per cup!), fat (less than 1% and cholesterol (NONE). That’s just for starters because beet nutrition facts also reveal a low sodium content. Although there are 9.2 grams of sugar found in raw beets, don’t worry because it’s that sugar that makes them edible!
Beets are also a fat burning food with just 4% of your daily value of carbohydrates and a monster 15% fiber per1 cup serving! So even if you manage to force down a few beets, your body will be working hard to process them! Throw in 2.2 grams of protein and you can see why you should be taking advantage of the calories in beets.
Beets also provide you with plenty of essential vitamins and nutrients like vitamins C and B6, potassium, manganese iron and calcium!
Storing/Selecting
When selecting beets, avoid beets with black spots, bruises or soft areas as these can all be signs of beets past their prime. Look for beets with bright green leaves, with firm roots and a deep color. For best tasting beets choose small or medium beets; many of the large beets, while cool to look at, lack flavor.
When storing beets, save the washing until just before cooking or eating. Store fresh beets in an airtight container or storage bag, and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.
Eat It With:
For a quick and easy way to enjoy the calories in beets peel and chop and add to your favorite salad combination. Borscht is a popular Russian dish that features beets!
Beets can be steamed, roasted, boiled or fried and added to your favorite meat or vegetarian dish. Pickled beets is a common way to eat beets, but if you’re just getting into beets consider combining them with foods you already love like sweet potatoes, beef or soup.
Burn Off Calories In Beets
To burn off the calories in beets you would need to do:
- 8 minutes of badminton.
- 5 minutes of flag football.
- 5 minutes on an exercise bike.
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