Beet Root, popularly called chukandar or garden beet, is a juicy root vegetable. It is distinguished by its unique flavour. It is more colourful than other root vegetables.

Beet is believed to be a native of the Mediterranean region of Europe or west Asia. It is now cultivated in the Caribean, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Centeral East and West Africa. In India it is cultivated for its nutritious roots.

Beet is a good and healthy food. It contains carbohydrates, protein and fat. It is taken in a variety of ways. They are widely used in salads and in the preparation of pickles and chutney. They are also baked like potatoes or boiled, steamed or cooked. They should be thoroughly washed before boiling and the skin should be removed before use. The leaves, like all green vegetables, should be cooked with a small amount of water and for only a short time. The fresher the beets, the better the flavour and the quicker they cook. The beet juice is considered as one of the best vegetable juice. It is a rich source of natural sugar. It contains sodium, iodine, iron, copper, vitamin B1, B2, niacin, B6, C and P. This juice is rich in easily digestable corbohydrates but the calorie content is low.

Natural Benefits amd Curative Properties

Beets are of great therapeutic value. They have properties to clean the kindneys and gall bladder. Being rich in alkaline elements, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron, they are useful in combating acidosis and aid the natural processes of elimination.

Red beet juice is associated with human blood and blood forming qualities. Due to its higher content of iron, it regenerates and reactivates the red blood cells, supplies fresh oxygen to the body and helps the normal function of vesicular breathing. It is thus extremely useful in the treatment of anaemia.

Beet juice is beneficial in the treatment of jaundice, hepatitis, nausea and vomiting due to biliousness, diarrhoea and dysentary. Adding a tea spoonful of lime juice to this juice increases its medicinal value and can be given as a liquid food in these conditions. Fresh beet juice mixed with a tablespoonful of honey taken every morning before breakfast helps the healing of gastriculcer.

The beet juice is an excellent solvent for inorganic calcium deposits. It is therefore, valuable in the treatment of hypertension, arteriosclerosis, heart trouble and varicose veins.

The beet juice, in combination with the juice of carrot and cucumber, is one of the finest cleansing material for kidneys and gall bladder. It is highly beneficial in all disorders relating to these two organs.

The water in which beet roots and tops have been boiled is an excellent application for boils, skin inflammation and out breaks of pimples and pustules. The white beet is better for this purpose.

The decoction of beets mixed with little vinegar can be used externally to cleanse scurf or dandruff from the head. For dandruff the beet water should also be massaged. into the scalp with the ginger tip every night.

(Compiled by Seema Ghildiyal)