Root for Beets: Top 10 Fun Facts Unearthing the Wonders of This Vibrant Veggie
1. Rapunzel's Beetroot Hair Mask
When Rapunzel ditched her extensions and went red, little did we know she was onto something magical: Beetroot, mixed with coconut oil, makes for an all-natural, chemical-free hair mask, boosting shine, health, and leaving your tresses as soft as a fairytale ending.
Source => wikihow.com
2. Sugar Beets' Sweet Surprise
Who knew beets possessed such "sweet" ambitions: Sugar beets, an entirely different species from the ones we see dancing on plates, are grown specifically for their epic 15% sucrose content, transforming 5 pounds of these not-so-ordinary beets into just under 1 pound of sugar that mimics the taste of molasses—talk about a beet's unexpected sweet spot!
Source => instructables.com
Did you know kale becomes sweeter after a heavy frost and can withstand temperatures as low as -15.0° Celsius? Discover more about this frosty treat's ancient origins and its curly-haired Greek cousins!
=> Fun Facts about Kale
3. Swiss Chard: Christmas Dinner Star
Move over, Charlie Brown: Christmas dinner in the south of France has a star of its very own - Swiss chard! As the unsung hero of yuletide feasting, this beet's "non-root" sibling struts its stuff with artichoke-heart-flavored stalks in place of a bulbous root: Native to the Mediterranean, Swiss chard was once exclusively cultivated as a Christmas meal centerpiece, with its delectable petioles stealing the spotlight. Bonus points for its eye-catching foliage and ornamental flair, which makes it an aesthetic addition to the garden as well!
Source => hort.extension.wisc.edu
4. Athletes vs. Beetroot Power-Up
If elite athletes treated beets like a secret power-up in a video game, they'd quickly learn it doesn't quite work on them like a nutritional cheat code: British Athletics nutritionist Marc Fell reveals that elite athletes don't receive significant benefits from beetroot consumption due to their already efficient oxygen exchange system, while other runners might gain a performance boost from the nitrates found in beetroot and other vegetables.
Source => worldathletics.org
5. Aphrodisiac Allure of Beets
Caution: consuming beets may cause unexpected heat, uncharted heart throbs, and an unstoppable urge to recite love poetry—especially if you're Greek gods like us mere mortals: Beets are known to have aphrodisiac properties, thanks to their high levels of boron, tryptophan, and betaine, which together increase sex hormones and promote well-being, making them a staple for Aphrodite and ancient lovers alike.
Source => pbs.org
6. The Office's Schrute-juice
Beetlejuice, Schrute-juice... same difference, right?: In an amusing twist of reality mixing with fantasy, the fictional Schrute Farms from The Office is manifest as a fake TripAdvisor listing, complete with hilarious reviews and details on accommodations. This jest, initiated by the show's producers, continues to entertain fans and generate traffic, leaving a lasting, beet-red imprint on the world of everyone's favorite, eccentric beet farmer, Dwight Schrute.
Source => theoffice.fandom.com
7. Mind-Blowing Beet Greens
Hold onto your salad bowls, beet greens are about to blow your mind and your taste buds: Not only are these leafy wonders an absolute powerhouse of nutrients, like potassium, vitamins A, B, C, and E, and a whole bunch of minerals, but by scarf-pulling them into your diet, you're also helping to regulate your blood pressure, improve digestion, and keep your heart kicking like a champion!
Source => drlamcoaching.com
8. Contortionist Sugars in Biofuels
Move over contortionist sugars, there's a new twisty-turny sweet sensation in the world of biofuels: Industrial beets, packed with sugar, can potentially double ethanol production per hectare compared to other feedstocks, making them a strong contender for advanced biofuel designation and a possible renewable energy source for the USA Renewable Fuels Standard. The economic feasibility of these sweet, flexible dynamos is still being assessed, so stay tuned to see if they will beet out the competition!
Source => sciencedirect.com
9. Beets: The Beet-uty Secret
Who needs beauty creams when you've got the beet-uty secret to radiant skin, straight from mother nature's treasure trove? Busting out laughing at my beet puns: Beets are jam-packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, adept at reducing skin pigmentation and blemishes, enhancing skin elasticity, and warding off early signs of aging, ultimately blessing your skin with a naturally luminous and healthy glow.
Source => bebeautiful.in
10. Beetroot's Antioxidant Ninja Skills
Ever felt like a beetroot in a sultry salsa class, getting hot and bothered as it battles inflammation like an antioxidant ninja? Well, that's because it totally is one: Beets contain betalains, powerful phytonutrients that provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support, including specific assistance for Phase 2 detox steps and helping to lower heart disease-linked homocysteine levels.
Source => nutriplexformulas.com