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 Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris
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| Beta vulgaris Carolus Linnaeus |
| Beets, raw Nutritional value per 100 g (3. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for 5 oz) |
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| Energy 40 kcal 180 kJ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. Reference Daily Intake (or Recommended Daily Intake ( RDI) is the daily dietary intake level of a nutrient which was considered (at the time they were defined to be sufficient Source: USDA Nutrient database |
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Beta vulgaris, commonly known as beet or beetroot, is a flowering plant species in the family Chenopodiaceae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Chenopodiaceae is a family of Flowering plants. Although widely recognized in most plant classifications (notably the Cronquist system) the APG system Several cultivars are valued around the world as edible root vegetables, fodder (mangel) and sugar-producing sugar beet. A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar Root vegetables are plant roots used as Vegetables Other underground plants are often erroneously called root vegetables In Agriculture, fodder or animal feed is any Foodstuff that is used specifically to feed Domesticated Livestock, such as Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. Sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris L a member of the Chenopodiaceae family is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of Sucrose. [1]
Contents |
Description
Beta vulgaris is a herbaceous biennial or rarely perennial plant with leafy stems growing to 1-2 m tall. A herbaceous plant (or in botanical use a Herb) is a Plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of A biennial plant is a flowering Plant that takes two years to complete its lifecycle. A perennial plant or perennial ( Latin per, "through" annus, "year" is a Plant that lives for more than The leaves are heart-shaped, 5-20 cm long on wild plants (often much larger in cultivated plants). In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. The flowers are produced in dense spikes, each flower very small, 3-5 mm diameter, green or tinged reddish, with five petals; they are wind-pollinated. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also See also Pollination syndrome Anemophily or wind pollination is a form of Pollination whereby Pollen is distributed by Wind The fruit is a cluster of hard nutlets. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. Nut is a general term for the large dry oily Seeds or Fruit of some Plants.
Taxonomy
Three subspecies are recognised:
- Beta vulgaris subsp. In Zoology, as in other branches of Biology, subspecies is the Taxonomic rank immediately subordinate to a Species. maritima. Sea beet. The sea beet ( Beta vulgaris subsp maritima) is a member of the family Chenopodiaceae, and is the wild ancestor of common Vegetables such North-West Europe. North-West Europe is a term that refers to a northern area of Western Europe, although the exact area or countries it comprises varies Plant smaller, to 80 cm tall; root not swollen.
- Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris. Europe. Plant larger, to 2 m tall; with a rounded fleshy taproot. A Plant 's taproot is a straight tapering Root that grows vertically down The ancestor of the cultivated beets (not subsp. maritima, as sometimes stated). Var. Ruba is the red beet.
- Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla - see Chard
Uses
Food
Spinach beet leaves are eaten as a pot herb. Chard ( Beta vulgaris var cicla) also known as Swiss Chard, Silverbeet, Perpetual Spinach, Crab Beet and Mangold Leaf vegetables, also called potherbs, greens, or leafy greens, are plant leaves eaten as a Vegetable, sometimes accompanied Young leaves of the garden beet are sometimes used similarly. The midribs of Swiss chard are eaten boiled while the whole leaf blades are eaten as spinach beet.
In Africa the whole leaf blades are usually prepared with the midribs as one dish. [2]
The leaves and stems of young plants are steamed briefly and eaten as a vegetable; older leaves and stems are stir-fried and have a flavour resembling taro leaves. Stir frying is an Umbrella term used to describe two fast Chinese cooking techniques chǎo ( 炒) and bào ( 爆) Taro (from Tahitian or other Polynesian languages) more rarely kalo (from Hawaiian) and gabi in The Philippines, is a
The usually deep-red roots of garden beet are eaten boiled either as a cooked vegetable, or cold as a salad after cooking and adding oil and vinegar. Salad is a mixture of cold foods usually including vegetables and/or fruits often with a dressing occasionally nuts or Croutons, and sometimes with the addition of Vinegar is an acidic liquid processed from the Fermentation of Ethanol in a process that yields its key ingredient Acetic acid (also called ethanoic acid A large proportion of the commercial production is processed into boiled and sterilised beets or into pickles. Pickling, also known as brining or corning, is the process of preserving Food by Anaerobic fermentation in Brine (a solution In Eastern Europe beet soup, such as cold borscht, is a popular dish. Eastern Europe is a general term that refers to the Geopolitical region encompassing the easternmost part of the European continent. Cold borscht (borshch or Cold beet soup (Lithuanian Šaltibarščiai, Polish Chłodnik or Chłodnik litewski, Russian Kholodnik Yellow-coloured garden beets are grown on a very small scale for home consumption. [2]
Beetroot can be peeled, steamed, and then eaten warm with butter as a delicacy; cooked, pickled, and then eaten cold as a condiment; or peeled, shredded raw, and then eaten as a salad. A condiment is a prepared edible substance or Mixture, often preserved or fermented (usually a liquid that is added in relatively small Malt vinegar is extracted from some beetroot and sold in supermarkets. It is also common in Australia and New Zealand for pickled beetroot to be consumed on a burger. [3]
One increasingly popular preparation involves tossing peeled and diced beets with a small amount of oil and seasoning, then roasting in the oven until tender.
Garden beet juice is a popular health food. A healthy diet is one that is arrived at with the intent of improving or maintaining optimal Health. Betanins, obtained from the roots, are used industrially as red food colourants, e. Betanin, or Beetroot Red, is a red glycosidic Food dye obtained from Beets its aglycone obtained by hydrolyzing away the Glucose A food coloring is any substance that is added to Food or Drink to change its Color. g. to improve the colour of tomato paste, sauces, desserts, jams and jellies, ice cream, sweets and breakfast cereals. Tomato paste is a thick paste made from ripened Tomatoes with skin and seeds removed Ice cream or ice-cream (originally iced cream) is a frozen dessert made from Dairy products such as Milk and Cream, combined A breakfast cereal (often simply called cereal is a packaged food product made from Cereal intended to be consumed as part of a Breakfast. [2]
Beet pulp is fed to horses that are in vigorous training or conditioning and to those that may be allergic to dust from hay.
Medicine
The roots and leaves have medicinal uses. [2]
The Romans used beetroot as a treatment for fevers and constipation, amongst other ailments. Constipation, costiveness, or irregularity, is a condition of the Digestive system in which a person (or animal experiences hard Feces that Apicius in De re coquinaria gives five recipes for soups to be given as a laxative, three of which feature the root of beet. A recipe is a set of instructions that show how to prepare or make something especially a culinary dish. Laxatives (or purgatives) are foods compounds or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool most often taken to treat Constipation. [4] Hippocrates advocated the use of beet leaves as binding for wounds. Hippocrates of Cos II or Hippokrates of Kos ( ca. 460 BC – ca
Since Roman times, beetroot juice has been considered an aphrodisiac. It is a rich source of the mineral boron, which plays an important role in the production of human sex hormones. Boron (ˈbɔərɒn is a Chemical element with Atomic number 5 and the chemical symbol B. Field Marshal Montgomery is reputed to have exhorted his troops to 'take favours in the beetroot fields', a euphemism for visiting prostitutes. Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC, (məntˈgʌmərɪ əv ˈæləmeɪn Prostitution is the act of performing Sexual activity in exchange for Money. [5]. From the Middle Ages, beetroot was used as a treatment for a variety of conditions, especially illnesses relating to digestion and the blood. Platina recommended taking beetroot with garlic to nullify the effects of 'garlic-breath'. Bartolomeo Platina, originally named Sacchi, (1421 in Piadena ( Platina in Latin) near Mantua &ndash 1481 in Rome Allium sativum L, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the Onion family Alliaceae. [6]
Today the beetroot is still championed as a universal panacea. The panacea (pænəˈsiːə named after the Greek goddess of healing Panacea, was supposed to be a remedy that would cure all Diseases and prolong life indefinitely One of the most controversial examples is the official position of the South African Health Minister on the treatment of AIDS. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Health Minister under Thabo Mbeki, has been nicknamed 'Dr. Dr Mantombazana Edmie Tshabalala-Msimang (born 9 October 1940 is a South African politician who is currently serving as Minister in the Presidency Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki (born 18 June 1942 is a South African politician who served as President of South Africa from 1999 to 24 September 2008 Beetroot' for promoting beets and other vegetables over antiretroviral AIDS medicines, which she considers toxic. [7]
Research published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension on the 4th February 2008 and showed drinking 500mls of beetroot juice a day can help reduce blood pressure levels. Researchers saw a reduction in blood pressure in volunteers after just 1 hour of drinking 500mls of beetroot juice. The reduction was more pronounced after 3 to 4 hours and up till 24 hours after drinking the juice. [8]
Other uses
Forms with strikingly coloured, large leaves are grown as ornamentals. Ornamental plants are typically grown in the flower Garden or as House plants Most commonly they are grown for the display of their Flowers Other common [2]
Beets are used as a food plant by the larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species — see List of Lepidoptera that feed on beets. A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. Beets ( Beta vulgaris) are used as a food plant by the Larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species including Angle Shades
Cultivation
Numerous cultivars have been selected and bred for several different characteristics. A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar For example, the "earthy" taste of some beet cultivars comes from the presence of the chemical compound geosmin. Geosmin, which literally translates to " earth smell " is an organic compound with a distinct earthy flavour and aroma and is responsible Researchers have not yet answered whether beets produce geosmin themselves, or whether it is produced by symbiotic soil microbes living in the plant. A microorganism (also spelled micro organism or micro-organism and also called a microbe) is an Organism that is Microscopic (usually [9] Nevertheless, breeding programs can produce cultivars with low geosmin levels yielding flavours more acceptable to shoppers. [10]
Major cultivar groups include:
- Fodder beet wurzel or mangold used as animal fodder. Under the Botanical nomenclature of the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP a cultivar group is any gathering of Cultivars Mangelwurzel or mangold wurzel ( Beta vulgaris) is a Root vegetable of the family Chenopodiaceae, genus Beta (the In Agriculture, fodder or animal feed is any Foodstuff that is used specifically to feed Domesticated Livestock, such as
- Sugar beet grown for sugar. Sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris L a member of the Chenopodiaceae family is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of Sucrose. Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose.
- Chard, a beet which has been bred for leaves instead of roots and is used as a leaf vegetable. Chard ( Beta vulgaris var cicla) also known as Swiss Chard, Silverbeet, Perpetual Spinach, Crab Beet and Mangold Leaf vegetables, also called potherbs, greens, or leafy greens, are plant leaves eaten as a Vegetable, sometimes accompanied
- Beetroot or table beet (or, in the 19th century, "blood turnip") used as a root vegetable. Root vegetables are plant roots used as Vegetables Other underground plants are often erroneously called root vegetables Notable cultivars in this group include:
- Albina Vereduna, a white variety.
- Bull's Blood, an open-pollinated variety originally from Britain, known for its dark red foliage. Open pollination is Pollination by insects, birds, Wind, or other natural mechanisms The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located It is grown principally for its leaves, which add color to salads. Salad is a mixture of cold foods usually including vegetables and/or fruits often with a dressing occasionally nuts or Croutons, and sometimes with the addition of
- Burpee's Golden, a beet with orange-red skin and yellow flesh.
- Chioggia, an open-pollinated variety originally grown in Italy. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The concentric rings of its red and white roots are visually striking when sliced. As a heritage variety, Chioggia is largely unimproved and has relatively high concentrations of geosmin.
- Detroit Dark Red has relatively low concentrations of geosmin, and is therefore a popular commercial cultivar in the US. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
- India Beet is not as sweet as Western beet.
- Lutz Greenleaf, a variety with a red root and green leaves, and a reputation for maintaining its quality well in storage.
- Red Ace, the principal variety of beet found in U. S. supermarkets, typical for its bright red root and red-veined green foliage. Customer divider barjpg|thumb|In supermarkets sellers periodically change prices for classes of goods in response to market conditions rather than negotiating the price of each good
Properties
Beta vulgaris roots contain significant amounts of vitamin C, whilst the leaves are an excellent source of vitamin A. Vitamin C or L-ascorbate is an Essential nutrient for a large number of higher primate species a small number of other Mammalian Vitamin A refers to a family of similarly shaped molecules the Retinoids. They are also high in folate, soluble and insoluble dietary fibre and antioxidants. Folic acid (also known as Vitamin M and Folacin) and Folate (the Anionic form are forms of the water-soluble Vitamin B9 Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the Digestive system, absorbing water and easing Defecation. An antioxidant is a Molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules It is among the sweetest of vegetables, containing more sugar even than carrots or sweet corn. Sweet is one of the five Basic tastes and is almost universally regarded as a pleasurable experience The carrot ( Daucus carota subsp sativus, Etymology: Middle French carotte, from Late Latin carōta, from Greek karōton Sweet corn ( Zea mays var rugosa) also called indian corn, sweetcorn, sugar corn, pole corn, or simply corn The content of sugar in beetroot is no more than 10%; in the sugar beet it is typically 15 to 20%.
Beetroots are rich in the nutrient betaine. Betaine supplements, manufactured as a byproduct of sugar beet processing, are prescribed to lower potentially toxic levels of homocysteine (Hcy), a homologue of the naturally occurring amino acid cysteine, which can be harmful to blood vessels thereby contributing to the development of heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Homocysteine is a Chemical compound with the formula HSCH2CH2CH(NH2CO2H Not to be confused with Cystine, its oxidized dimer Cysteine (abbreviated as Cys or C) is an α- Amino acid with Heart disease is an Umbrella term for a variety for different diseases affecting the Heart. A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain Peripheral vascular disease (PVD also known as peripheral artery disease (PAD or peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD is a collator for all Diseases [11]
Red/purple colouring
The colour of red/purple beetroot is due to a variety of betalain pigments, unlike most other red plants, such as red cabbage, which contain anthocyanin pigments. Betalains are a class of Red and Yellow Indole -derived pigments found in Plants of the Caryophyllales. The Red Cabbage ( Brassica oleracea var capitata f rubra) is a sort of Cabbage, also known as Red Kraut or Blue Kraut Not to be confused with Anthocyanidin, their sugar free counterparts The composition of different betalain pigments can vary, giving breeds of beetroot which are yellow or other colors in addition to the familiar deep red. [12] Some of the betalains in beets are betanin, isobetanin, probetanin, and neobetanin (the red to violet ones are known collectively as betacyanin). Betanin, or Beetroot Red, is a red glycosidic Food dye obtained from Beets its aglycone obtained by hydrolyzing away the Glucose Other pigments contained in beet are indicaxanthin and vulgaxanthins (yellow to orange pigments known as betaxanthins). Indicaxanthin has been shown as a powerful protective antioxidant for thalassemia, as well as prevents the breakdown of alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E). Thalassemia (from Greek θαλασσα thalassa sea + αίμα haima blood British spelling "thalassaemia" is an inherited Autosomal recessive
Betacyanin in beetroot may cause red urine in some people who are unable to break it down. Urine is a liquid waste product of the body secreted by the Kidneys by a process of filtration from Blood and Excreted through the Urethra. This is called beeturia. Beeturia is passing of red or pink Urine after eating Beets It affects 10-14% of the population [13]
The pigments are contained in cell vacuoles. In general vacuole functions include Removing unwanted structural debris Isolating materials that might be harmful or a threat to the cell Containing Beetroot cells are quite unstable and will 'leak' when cut, heated, or when in contact with air or sunlight. This is why red beetroots leave a purple stain. Leaving the skin on when cooking, however, will maintain the integrity of the cells and therefore minimise leakage.
History
Beet remains have been excavated in the Third dynasty Saqqara pyramid at Thebes, Egypt, and four charred beet fruits were found in the Neolithic site of Aartswoud in the Netherlands. Third Dynasty The Third Dynasty of Ancient Egypt is the first dynasty of the Old Kingdom. Saqqara or Sakkara, Saqqarah ( Arabic: سقارة is a vast ancient burial ground in Egypt, featuring the world's oldest standing Step Thebes ( Thēbai) was a city in Ancient Egypt located about 800 km south of the Mediterranean on the east bank of the river Nile ( This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos Aartswoud ( ( West Frisian: Ierswou) is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands But it is difficult to determine whether these are domesticated or wild forms of B. vulgaris. Zohary and Hopf note that beet is "linguistically well identified. " They state the earliest written mention of the beet comes from 8th century BC Mesopotamia; the Greek Peripatetic Theophrastus later describes the beet as similar to the radish. The 8th century BC started the first day of 800 BC and ended the last day of 701 BC. Mesopotamia (from the Greek meaning "land between the rivers" is an area geographically located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers largely corresponding The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions The Peripatetics were members of a school of philosophy in Ancient Greece. Theophrastus ( Greek:; 371 – c 287 BC a Greek native of Eressos in Lesbos, was the successor of Aristotle in the Peripatetic The radish ( Raphanus sativus) is an edible Root vegetable of the Brassicaceae family that was domesticated in Europe in pre- "Roman and Jewish literary sources indicate that already in the 1st century BC domestic beet was represented in the Mediterranean basin by leafy forms (chard) and very probably also by beetroot cultivars. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ The 1st century BC started the first day of 100 BC and ended the last day of 1 BC. The Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. "[14]With the imposition of the blockade of the continent during the Napoleonic Wars there was an impetus to develop beet for their sugar content. The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions Beet historians have long argued that the term “bonbon de naturel” or “natures candy” came into the popular vernacular during this time period. Vernacular refers to the Native language of a country or a locality
References
- ^ The PLANTS Database (Database). United States Department of Agriculture, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2006). Baton Rouge (French Bâton-Rouge ˌbætən ˈruːdʒ in English, and in French) is the capital city of Louisiana. The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America
- ^ a b c d e Grubben, G. J. H. & Denton, O. A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen.
- ^ Weird Foods from around the World
- ^ Apicius De Re Coquinaria 3. 2. 1, 3, 4
- ^ Stephen Nottingham (2004). Beetroot (E-book).
- ^ Platina De Honesta Voluptate et Valetudine, 3. Bartolomeo Platina, originally named Sacchi, (1421 in Piadena ( Platina in Latin) near Mantua &ndash 1481 in Rome 14
- ^ Blandy, Fran. "'Dr Beetroot' hits back at media over Aids exhibition", Mail & Guardian Online, 2006-08-16. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1384 - The Hongwu Emperor of Ming China, Emperor Dong hears a case of a couple who tore paper money bills while fighting
- ^ My Blood Pressure.
- ^ "Biosynthetic origin of geosmin in red beets (Beta vulgaris L.)." (2003 Feb). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (abstract) 12 (51(4)): 1026-9. American Chemical Society.
- ^ Stephen Nottingham (2004). Beetroot (E-book).
- ^ Betaine. University of Maryland Medical Center (April 2002).
- ^ Hamilton, Dave (2005). Beetroot Beta vulgaris.
- ^ M. A. Eastwood; H. Nyhlin (1995). Beeturia and colonic oxalic acid. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine.
- ^ Daniel Zohary and Maria Hopf, Domestication of plants in the Old World, third edition (Oxford: University Press, 2000), pp. 200f
External links
- PROTAbase on Beta vulgaris
- Beta vulgaris craca - Plants For a Future Database entry
- Stephen Nottingham (2004). Beetroot (e-book).
- "Professor upbeat about unappreciated root crop" - general information about beets (UW article)
- Sorting Beta names - multilingual listing of the Beta species
- Beet recipes - 66 recipes exhibiting the range of beet uses
- 25 Facts About Beets
- Beet juice lowers blood pressure
Dictionary
beet
-noun
- Common name of Beta vulgaris, a plant with swollen root eaten or used to make sugar.
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