WHY WE AVOID IT:

It’s an acquired taste. Some think they taste like dirt and get annoyed that they turn all the other food on their plate red. President Barack Obama admitted that he always avoided eating them, which explains why Lady Michelle excluded them from the White House vegetable garden. Most children grimace at beets and will always associate them with the canned muck served in grade school cafeterias.

WHY WE SHOULD EAT IT:

The red pigments in beets are potent antioxidants that help the liver with its detox functions. This may be why beets have shown such promise as anti-cancer agents in various studies. Beets are also able to protect against liver disease, lower blood pressure and help prevent heart disease. For endurance athletes, beetroot juice may be a performance enhancer. In a study conducted by Exeter University, cyclists who drank 500 ml of beetroot juice were able to ride up to 20% longer than those who drank a placebo of blackcurrant juice. Beets may be the reason why some borscht-loving Russians live up to become 100 years old.