Beet
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. 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). 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).
Betacyanin in beetroot may cause red urine in some people who are unable to break it down. This is called beeturia. [13]
The pigments are contained in cell vacuoles. 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.
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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. 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. "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."[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.[citation needed] Beet historians have long argued that the term “bonbon de naturel” or “natures candy” came into the popular vernacular during this time period.
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References
- ^ The PLANTS Database (Database). United States Department of Agriculture, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2006).
- ^ 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, 3.14
- ^ Blandy, Fran. "'Dr Beetroot' hits back at media over Aids exhibition", Mail & Guardian Online, 2006-08-16.
- ^ 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
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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
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