Root Vegetables – They Provide Variety Beyond a Salad

Many of you already know that I completed the Hapalua half marathon last weekend and I must say it can be a challenge (at any age).  Both before and after the run, I needed to focus on healthy carbs, and root vegetables have proven to be beneficial, especially beets!

When you think about healthy eating, salads and green vegetables usually come to mind. But how about adding a little more variety to your plan?

Roots like carrots, sweet potatoes, and turnips, are a rich source of nutritious complex carbohydrates. They help to regulate blood sugar levels, instead of spiking them like refined sweet foods.

Why Eat More Root Veggies?

Long roots – carrots, parsnips, burdock, and daikon radish – are excellent blood purifiers and can help improve circulation in the body. Round roots – turnips, radishes, beets, and rutabagas – nourish the stomach, spleen, pancreas, and reproductive organs.

Which root vegetables do you enjoy the most?

If you’re like most of the world, it’s carrots and potatoes. Here are a few others to explore:

·         Beets contain an abundance of antioxidants and are highly detoxifying.

·         Burdock is considered a powerful blood purifier. This long, thin veggie is a staple in Asian and health food stores.

·         Celeriac, also known as celery root, is rich in fiber and with a respectable amount of antioxidants.

·         Jicama is crunchy and refreshing and contains a generous amount of vitamin C. It’s a favorite in its native Mexico and South America.

·         Onions are rich in antioxidants and other phytonutrients, making them prized for their ability to strengthen the immune system.

·         Parsnips, which look like giant white carrots, boast a sweet, earthy taste. They’ve also got plenty of fiber, vitamin C, folic acid, niacin, thiamine, magnesium, and potassium.

·         Radish is an excellent source of vitamin C. It’s also rich in calcium, molybdenum, and folic acid.

·         Sweet Potatoes contain unsurpassed levels of beta-carotene and are also rich in vitamin C, phytonutrients, and fiber.

Excited to add more roots to your diet? Click here for a fun, easy recipe for Roasted Root Vegetables.