Interesting facts about beets

May 26, 2010 | In: Food facts

Beets were an important plant for both the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Red beets get their color from a pigment called “betalain.” Betalain is also responsible for the red color of bougainvillea and amaranth.

Sugar beets are about 20% sugar while beets or beetroot are usually no more than 10% sugar.

Beets are sometimes used to make homemade wine.

Beet offers invaluable nutritional benefits. Beet is the source for potassium, fiber and folate.

While the sweet beet root has some of the minerals in its greens to a lesser degree, it is also a remarkable source of choline, folic acid, iodine, manganese, organic sodium, potassium, fiber and carbohydrates in the form of natural digestible sugars.