US First Lady Michelle Obama has garnered lots of positive press for her initiative to build a White House garden and farmer’s market. But poor old beets didn’t make it into the garden because, apparently the Prez hates the red rooty bulbs. I can just hear him now … “Let me be clear: No beet will be eaten by this administration.”

Too bad. President Obama, like anyone else, could really benefit from the nutritious bounty of beets.

Why beets are hard to beat (can’t resist that easy pun!):

- Beets are cheap and low in calories - but full of natural sweetness that can add a lot of flavour to other foods.

- Beets boast B-vitamins, like B9 - better known as folate or folic acid (when in supplement form). Folate-filled foods are especially beneficial to women who are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant soon, because the vitamin is important for healthy cell growth.

- Betacyanin, the pigment that gives beets their rich red colour, is a potentially powerful antioxidant.

- Beets burst with fibre to aid digestion and blood sugar regulation.

Also, beets can be eaten from top to bottom - roots, stalks, leaves and all!

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