Are beets and beet greens good for you?

The answer is yes.

Both beet greens and beet roots have different sorts of nutrition, though. Beet greens are loaded with high levels of vitamins A, K, and C, as well as a whole host of other trace minerals. High dietary fiber content does well for your digestive system.

Beet roots have also been shown to support the detoxification process in the body. The betalin compound found in beets (and giving them their red color) helps to capture pesky toxins, and flush them out of the system through the urinary tract. Being high in fiber, it's known for its overall cleansing and diuretic properties.

Studies have shown that the high levels of antioxidant and anti-inflammitory agents found in beets contribute to a reduction in the risk of all sorts of cancers. A study published in The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2005) studied the effects of beet nutrients (such as betanin) on human tumor cells, and while preliminary, it supports beet's anti-cancer properties.