The Lyme Juice Company is adding UP BEET to its menu this week. Upper Pond Farm in Lyme, CT will be picking some beets for us on Friday to bring fresh to market on Saturday morning.

UP BEET will be made from organic beets, carrots, orange, apple, lemon and ginger. We can’t wait to see your happy UP BEET faces when you taste it!

Beets are loaded with good things and are associated with numerous health benefits, including improved blood flow, lower blood pressure and increased exercise performance. The pigments that give beets their rich color are called betalains. Betalains function both as antioxidant and as anti-inflammatory.

Beets are very low in saturated fat and cholesterol, a good source of vitamin C, iron, and magnesium as well as an excellent source of dietary fiber, folate, potassium, and manganese.

Manganese? Yes, please! Manganese is an essential trace element that supports healthy bone development. It is anti-inflammatory and a co-enzyme in metabolic activity. Dr Axe writes about Manganese noting that it:   

• helps to prevent osteoporosis and arthritis
• is important to antioxidant and enzyme function
• helps to maintain cognitive function
• fights diabetes
• supports lung health
• balances calcium levels
• balances iron levels
• reduces PMS symptoms

Only note of caution is that beets are high in sugar. They are usually well tolerated but contain oxalates and FODMAPs in the form of fructans, short chain carbohydrates that feed the gut bacteria. FODMAPs can cause unpleasant digestive upset in sensitive individuals, such as those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. If you are on a strict diet you might want to check with your doctor or nutritionist to make sure that the anti-inflammatory benefits outweigh its high sugar/fructans content.