Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Beetroot mocktail

Beetroot Mocktail
It's funny how our brains are trained to believe things only when they are supported by facts. There are so many things that I pooh-poohed as a kid and sheepishly acknowledge now because "scientists" have conducted experiments and have proved it to be true.
Growing up in India in a joint family ,we kids always heard about the health benefits of every vegetable or fruit which we had to eat (no questions asked and no explanations given). All that knowledge probably had it's roots in Ayurveda but is still being referred to as "bush medicine". Even Ayurveda,which is an ancient science is only now gaining popularity in the western world though it has been around since BC!!
Wondering where all this talk is leading to? Well the other day I read an article on WebMD stating "Beetroot Juice Lowers Blood Pressure" and it brought back memories of my mom telling me that "eating/drinking beetroot would give me rosy cheeks as it would improve my blood". Beetroot juice is also recommended by Naturopaths for those who are anemic,but then again naturopathy isn't mainstream medicine-it's 'alternative' medicine!!
Over the years,there have been so many such instances when "modern" science has taken up a study on some similar "bush" theory's and proven my mom and grandma right, that every time I read about it,I can just picture my mom doing a little "I TOLD YOU SO" jig in my mind.
Now that I am older(and hopefully wiser) and also armed with scientific data (for some), I have decided to pass on this wisdom that I have inherited to my son as he goes through life(so that later he can picture ME doing the jig)!
Ladies and gentlemen of the "modern" world, please join me as I raise a toast to the wisdom of all our ancestors with this mocktail made with the innumerable benefits of beets,carrots and lemon juice.
Ingredients:
  • Beetroot:1 small
  • Carrot: 1/2
  • Lime juice : 2-3 tablespoon
  • Sugar:2 teaspoon(optional)
Method:
  1. Blend all the ingredients together in a juicer.
  2. Serve chilled.
Check out this awesome slideshow on juices on WebMD called:
Juice Wars: The Best and Worse for your Health

Question: Is there any such "bush" theory that you heard as a kid that science has proved right?

23 comments:

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

It sure looks good, but I don't do beets. I always get fooled by the color and then I taste them and still don't like them.

chow and chatter said...

great post love it, umm can't think of anything of hand Brits say eat your crusts on your bread it will make your hair curly just something funny and random for you. But your right hubbys mum says a lot of stuff like lentils lower blood sugar/cholesterol and we now know they do but with portion control!
Rebecca

Christo Gonzales said...

excellent - we have fresh juice almost every morning - a combination of carrots, beets and apples....

Vrinda said...

Healthy mocktail Sweta..lov beets but never made drinks out of it..

Anonymous said...

So interesting, Sweta! sounds good- and I've never been a huge fan of beets, although I've had a few in salads recently and really enjoyed them! Love to hear about your family recommending beetroot to you as a child!

Jenn said...

Not much of a fan of beets. I don't know, i guess i haven't eaten them enough to really appreciate them.

Love the header. Look at all the at fruit and veggie schmorgisborg!!!

Pavithra Elangovan said...

Wow thats cool and healthy..mocktail

eatingRD said...

I love beets, especially roasted on a salad. I'll have to try them in a mocktail. I chuckled when you described the infamous 'told you so jig' I was pretty compliant with all my mom's antics and actually wasn't really a picky eater as a kid. Whatever was on the table I had to eat it and be thankful for it.

-kristen

Heather S-G said...

I love beets...I bet this is sweet and tasty. I have been wanting a juicer FOREVER.

Ramya Vijaykumar said...

Oh such an amzing mocktail... the color is simply stunning!!! its definitely healthy and a thirst quenching drink for the summer!!!

Sweta (My Indian Dietitian) said...

Katherine,Angie,Jenn-try it,try it in diff ways,and you may like it:)
Reb-bread crust and curly hair,well now that's one BIG challenge for the scientists!!
DB-the apples with the beet must add a lovely flavour.
Vrinda,Pavithra,Ramya-thanks:)
Dar,Kristen-it tastes great,so long as you love beets!

Anonymous said...

I never thought of using beets to make juice! very fascinating...and hee hee, like the idea of calling it a mocktail!

Pavithra Elangovan said...

Its there madam u ordered idli and dosa and lot of chutney... So sweet delivery :)

Pooja said...

Love the new look of your blog Sweta. The mocktail looks great. Healthy and nutritious!

Home Cooked Oriya Food said...

I love beet rice - never tried in a juice... Looks lovely red and appetizing...

Astra Libris said...

Such a beautiful, bright beverage!!

Gina; The Candid RD said...

Great post! We had a lady come into our supplement class and talk about Ayurveda, it was very interesting and I really enjoyed it. You know a perfect example of a "bush" theory proven right? I just read the book "Good Calories, Bad calories" and it talked about how for years scientists told consumers that fat was making them fat. Well, here we are now, 2009, and there is now plenty of research saying the opposite; fat is good, sugar and carbs (too much) are making us fat!

Crazy.

Anonymous said...

Very nice! I would love to try it but unfortunately I'm the only one in my family who likes beets. I may be able to convert my daughter with juice though.

sangeeta said...

perfect about ayurveda.....i am an ardent ayurveda follower n have a blog too 'ayurveda on my plate'.....i want to update i more frequently though......
i wish the western world understands the goodness of ghee, sesame oil etc.
i like beets but somehow don't relish it raw or juiced....though i like the juice with a lot of tomatoes thrown in........recently posted a beet recipe ......the new look of your blog is very good.

Crazy Pants said...

My parents have fresh beets ready to dig up in their garden. While I'm here I've been juicing everyday. Delicious!

Yasmeen said...

I remember the jig "Fresh veggies and fruits are the best for health" ,only that I hated either of those.Thankfully today my meal is never complete without them.
The beet mocktail sounds like a true blend of vitality:)

Sweta (My Indian Dietitian) said...

Sophie,HCOF-try it :)
Natasha-not sure if your daughter will like this juice,I hated it as a kid(it's got a strong beet flavor)!
Pooja,Astra,Yasmeen-thanks:)
Gina-moderation and adequate exercise seems to be the key nowadays:)
Sangeeta-will check out your blog on Ayurveda.
Berni-I love it too.

Admin said...

This is my favorite vegetable juice in the whole wide world. One of the smartest kitchen investments I've made is the super-duper juicer I have.