10 Reasons Why Carrots & Beets Are Good For You

This week at Goodness Me!, we are celebrating two of our favourite vegetables: carrots and beets. Read on to find out why they should be your favourite, too, the amazing health benefits of them, and how to include them in your next recipe!  

Did you know carrots were first grown as medicine for a variety of ailments? Or that while the orange ones are most popular, carrots can also be white, yellow, red, and purpose? (These multicoloured carrots make for a fun and delicious roasted veggie medley!) But what about their health benefits? Check out these 5 things carrots have to offer you!

1. They are high in beta carotene, which has been linked to a reduced risk of several cancers
2. Carrots, like many veggies, are a good source of fiber which aids the digestive system and helps you become more regular!
3. Rich in vitamin A, carrots can help improve your eyesight.
4. Vitamin A isn’t the only vitamin they’re rich in, though. Carrots are also a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B8, pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, iron, copper, and manganese.
5. Carrots are good for your immune system! They contain a number of antiseptic and antibacterial abilities that make them ideal for boosting the immune system. Plus, they’re rich in vitamin C.

 One of our favourite ways to enjoy carrots is in side dishes, like our yummy and easy Maple Roasted Carrots. With just 4 ingredients that you probably already have at home, including maple syrup, butter, rosemary, and carrots, you can whip this recipe up quickly—but your taste buds will think it was a professionally crafted dish! Get the recipe here. We also love carrots in soup, like our Carrot Quinoa Soup with Goat Cheese. With quinoa as a complete protein source and a number of fresh veggies, this is the perfect soup to keep you warm on fall nights. Check it out here!  

Now, onto beets. In many cultures, people believe that if a man and woman eat from the same beet, they’ll fall in love. We believe that if anyone eats a beet, they’ll fall in love—with beets! We love them for so many reasons, and you should too.  

1. Beets are a wonderful liver tonic. They work as a purifier for the blood and help to cleanse the body!
2. Did you know beets can boost your mood? They contain betaine, which has been used to treat some cases of depression, and tryptophan, which creates a relaxing sense of wellbeing similar to chocolate. Bring on the beets!
3. They are a good source of energy, being low in calories but high in natural sugars!
4. You thought carrots had a lot of vitamins and minerals? Beets are high in potassium, magnesium, fiber, phosphorus, iron, vitamins A, B, and C, beta carotene, and folic acid. Why aren’t you eating them yet?
5. Ever wondered how effective your digestive system is? Beets can show you! They’ll show up when you have a bowel movement—and you can see how effective and quickly your digestive system is working by tracking the amount of time between beet consumption and when they make an appearance in the bathroom.

Of course, it's always best to choose organic beets and carrots (and all produce) to ensure you are getting the highest amount of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins they can offer. Vegetables that are conventionally farmed are sprayed with pesticides, chemicals, and grown on nutritionally-depleted soil. With organic farming, you can be sure your produce will be free of GMOs, dangerous pesticides and artificial chemicals -- and they have practices to make sure their soil is as nutrient-rich and healthy as possible. Taste the difference!  

If you’ve never cooked with beets before, we’re here to give you some delish ways to try them! An easy recipe is our Balsamic Roasted Beets – a perfect fall side dish. With Three Farmers Camelina Oil for healthy fats and seasoned to perfection, you’ll want to make this part of your regular recipe routine. Beets also make a delicious addition to salads, such as in our Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Walnuts—which is just as yummy and decadent as it sounds. Check out the recipe here. Lastly, did you know you can use beets in desserts? Try making our Spiced Beet Cake – the perfect fall dessert. Made with spelt flour, beets, and seasonal spices like ginger and cinnamon, this cake just might disappear before you have a chance to let it cool. Get the recipe here!

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