Beets are like natural chemistry laboratories. While most vegetables have one feature that makes them stand out—such as vitamin C in oranges or potassium in bananas—beets contain a combination of micronutrients that work together to influence different physiological functions.
One such micronutrient is folate, or vitamin B9, an essential component in DNA repair and the production of new red blood cells. Beets also contain an abundant supply of manganese, an element required for metabolic activity and healthy bones, and they are one of the few natural plant sources of betalains. Although betalains give beets their bright red color, inside the body these compounds act as powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. Rather than remaining passive in the body, they act as active agents that help counter oxidative stress and neutralize free radicals linked to chronic disease
