Beetroot

[Beryl]

I see the good old beetroot is back in the news again.
Those of us that grow it and eat it should be the healthiest lot around.

I wouldn't advocate drinking neat beetroot juice though - very potent.
Beware the consequences.

Beryl.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Beryl, i think us gardeners are a fit old lot.

Thanks for the warning.

[Beryl]

How true OH - its what keeps us in the 'pink'.

Beryl.

[freddy]

I love Beetroot

[Beryl]

Yes, me to. There always a dish of cooked beetroot in the kitchen in the summer to dip into as and when.
And I have a pan of beetroot chutney bubbling away this very minute.

Beryl.

[glallotments]

It should come with a warning though so that people don't panic and rush to the doctors when their 'bodily fluids' turn red.

Is it just the red beetroot that is being pronounced the latest wonderfood?

[Beryl]

I wouldn't be 100% sure on this but isn't it something to do with it being a 'red' veg. antioxidents and all that.
I'm sure someone will put me right if I'm wrong.

Are golden beets on sale any where? or is it just us gardeners that know about them?

Beryl.

[Nature's Babe]

When the weather is a bit too hot to be in the kitchen cooking, young and tendeir beetroot are nice grated and raw, I make a sweet sour salad dressing to toss the grated beetroot in, lemon juoice olive oil honey salt and pepper, sometimes throw in some sultanas too, they get nice and plump in the juice.

[Beryl]

Sounds delicious NB- thanks I will try it.

Beryl.

[glallotments]

I wouldn't be 100% sure on this but isn't it something to do with it being a 'red' veg. antioxidents and all that.
I'm sure someone will put me right if I'm wrong.

Are golden beets on sale any where? or is it just us gardeners that know about them?

Beryl.

We grow a white variety too. I have never seen other than red on sale.

[Colin_M]

Is it just the red beetroot that is being pronounced the latest wonderfood?

No, there are a couple of reasons. However as someone with High Blood pressure, I'm interested in the research which appears to show that beetroot has been shown to help reduce high blood pressure - details here. I think it's also supposed to be beneficial for other reasons too.

As for the earlier comment about being careful not to drink neat beetroot juice, I can assure you that it's fine. You may want to start in moderation till you've got used to how it leaves the body though

Finally, as gardeners, anyone interested in it on this forum probably grows enough of their own. I didn't initially so bought it from James White. Someone gave us a juicer a few years back, so I then tried juicing a few and found it came out fine - best mixed with a little apple juice (say 10-20%) to give a good flavour.

[Beryl]

Thanks for all the info Colin.
You must have a very good constitution, I have HBP and tried juicing and it went through me like a dose of salts. Diluted is possibly the answer as you suggest. Think I will stick to the just the vegetable though.

Beryl.

[Primrose]

I grew a lot of beetroot last year and have still got much of it packed away in dry compost because embarrassingly I find it has the same effect on me as ExLax Chocolate. The perfect revenge must be to serve your worst enemy a large bowl of borsh soup the day before they're due to attend a really important interview. A beetroot curry might be even better

[Beryl]

Ha Ha - nice one Primrose.

A very nice borsh soup can be made using half beetroot juice and half chicken stock. My first mother-in-law was Polish and she always bled the beets first by packing peeled roots into a large stoneware jar. Covering with water and a slice of bread. Leaving for about 10 days till the bread was mouldy. Remove the bread and beets and use the juice. (no juicers in those days).

Beryl.

[Johnboy]

Hi Primrose,
You are not as demure as your name would suggest!
As Alan would say "there's wicked!"
JB.