Beet Juice: A Love Potion for Valentine’s Day
Show yourself some love this Valentine’s Day with a bright, spicy shot of ginger-beet juice!
Beet Juice: a Timeless Aphrodisiac
It’s almost Valentine’s Day and love is in the air, so if you’re in need of a love potion, look no further than . . .beet juice? As strange as it may sound, beetroot and its juices have long been associated with romance. Ancient Romans believed that eating beets enhanced amorous feelings, so much so that in the ruins of Pompeii, frescoes of beets were found decorating the walls of former brothels. Folklore in ancient Greece maintained that Aphrodite ate beets to enhance her appeal, and it was even said that if two people ate of the same beetroot, they’d be destined to fall in love.
Perhaps the ancients were onto something: beets contain tryptophan and betaine, along with boron, a trace mineral.
It’s all a bit spicy, really.
What’s in Beets
Beets are rich in potassium, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. Additionally, beets are full of nitrates, a naturally occurring compound.
Beets Are Full of Nitrates
When plants photosynthesize nitrogen from the atmosphere, inorganic compounds called nitrates are formed. And wouldn’t you know it, beets are chock full of nitrates.
Beets and the Periodic Table of Juicing
Curious what else is on the menu? Take a peek at our Periodic Table of Juicing, a handy chart of juice-worthy produce, and you’ll find beets featured.
Beets: the Super Food
Beets are a nutrient-rich vegetable, with fiber, folate, and manganese, and a bright, earthy sweetness that is wonderful in juice.
Are Beets Bad for Kidneys?
If you’ve heard that beets can cause kidney stones, a physician might recommend staying away from beets and beet juice if you are already at a higher risk of developing kidney stones. As with all things health related, make sure to talk to your physician if you have concerns about making beet juice a regular part of your diet.
Eating Raw Beets vs. Drinking Beet Juice
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with beets. Whether you’re eating them raw, pickled, or drinking sweet, sweet beetroot juice, you’ll be treating yourself to the best kind of self care, from the inside out.
One thing to take note of, however, is that like many raw foods, beets lose some of their nutritional value when heated.
Beets are full of the phytonutrient betalain (the pigment that gives beets their deep color), but heat causes betalains to become less stable. When you drink cold-pressed beet juice, your beets never see the heat.
Spicy Beet and Ginger Love Elixir
Ingredients
- 2 red beets
- 1 thumb of ginger
Yields about 10oz of juice, or 5 servings of 2oz shots.
Directions
- Grind beets and ginger in stage one of your juicer, using a #10 grid.
- Fold 1.5 cups of pulp into a press cloth.
- Press slowly.
Spread the Love by Reducing Waste
One of our very favorite tips when juicing is to save the leftover pulp to use in other recipes. Juice pulp will last up to three days in the refrigerator. For Valentine’s Day, why not use your pulp to make homemade Beet and Ginger Pasta? You’ll not only be showing love to your body, but also to the planet.
Pasta made from leftover juice pulp is full of extra insoluble fiber. And bonus: it tastes so good.
The pasta dough will last up to three days (with the pulp). It takes 10-20 minutes to make everything after the dough is ready.
Bonus Recipe: Beet and Ginger Love Pasta
Ingredients
- ginger-beet juice pulp
- all-purpose flour
- filtered water
- olive oil
Directions
- Put 1 ¼ cups of flour in a mound on your flat surface.
- Keep the other ¼ cup on hand to add in later.
- Using your fingers, form a hole in the center of the flour.
- Add a tablespoon of oil, ¾ cup of pulp, and a teaspoon of water into the hole.
- Knead the dough using your hands and a scraper for 3 minutes.
- Add the other ¼ cup of flour as needed until the dough is firm but still soft.
- Shape the dough into a ball, cover it with an airtight material (plastic wrap or other), and store it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or overnight if you are planning ahead.
- Once cooled, roll the dough out on a lightly floured flat surface. You can roll this as thin as possible.
- Use a pasta machine, cookie cutters, or simply cut into linguni with a knife.
- Heat water to boiling with a little olive oil.
- Place pasta into boiling water for 2 minutes, then remove it using a slotted spoon or strain.
Pro Tip: Add pasta to a saute pan with garlic and olive oil to enjoy the full flavor of the pasta!
Check out other flavors of juice pulp pastas
Nutrition Notes
beets: beets are nutrient-rich, containing folate and manganese, along with fiber and natural nitrates.
ginger: ginger is a common ingredient in juice that adds a spicy kick and a warm flavor.
Sources
Beetroot 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
The Potential Benefits of Red Beetroot Supplementation in Health and Disease
Beetroot Nutrition, Just Beet It
Fun Facts & Tidbits, Love Beets
11 Proven Health Benefits of Ginger
This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before changing your diet, especially if you have a health condition or take medication.