Beets are striking in appearance and nutritional value. This crimson-colored root vegetable is home to a unique family of plant pigments called betalains. Betalains exhibit strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and detoxifying capabilities. When you combine beet’s betalains with its mother load of vitamin C and manganese, two other antioxidant workhorses, along with its hit of folate and fiber – beets are dripping in health-boosting power. Their unique red betalain pigments can be diminished by excess heat so strive to steam them in 15 minutes or less or to roast them no longer than 1 hour.

Here are two delicious ways to include beets in your diet: