Venture past the produce aisle and you’ll find beets-galore: crunchy beet chips; marinated, single-serving baby beets; organic beet juices; and concentrated beet powders. So, what’s the deal with beets’ new-found fame? For one thing, beets are an excellent source of folic acid and manganese, and a good source of potassium and vitamin C. And research has found that beets may boost performance for intense, intermittent exercise and enhance endurance during activities like swimming and cycling—making them a go-to for athletes. Beets may also have cardiovascular benefits: Daily supplementation with beet juice was linked to lower blood pressure in at least one study.

While beet products abound, it’s important to remember that beet content varies from product to product, so be sure to read the label to see how much beet you’re getting for your buck. If you’re looking for beet-quantity, products geared toward athletes, like powdered concentrates and juice blends, tend to squeeze in the most beets. However, if you’re more concerned with pleasing your taste buds than downing a bundle of beets, marinated honey and ginger beets, cinnamon and sugar beet chips, and chocolatey, beet-laced baked goods may feed your beet need.

Source: LA Times