Beets are a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, including smoothies. While beets are not typically considered keto-friendly due to their high carb content, they can be enjoyed in small quantities or as part of a low-carb lifestyle.
There are several keto-friendly beet smoothie recipes available that combine beets with other ingredients to create a nutritious and delicious drink. These recipes often include additional vegetables, healthy fats, and low-carb fruits to boost the smoothie's nutritional profile while keeping it keto-compliant.
Some common ingredients paired with beets in keto smoothies include avocado, almond milk, coconut oil, cucumber, celery, and various low-carb berries. These smoothies can be a great way to incorporate the health benefits of beets into your diet while adhering to keto guidelines.
What You'll Learn
Keto beet smoothies can be made with raw or cooked beets
Beets are a great addition to a keto diet, but only in small quantities. They are high in fiber and low in net carbs, making them ideal for people looking to restrict their carb intake. Beets are also a good source of potassium, vitamin C, calcium, and beta-carotene.
When it comes to keto beet smoothies, you can use either raw or cooked beets. Raw beets have a higher nutritional value than cooked beets, but they can make the smoothie less creamy. If you want to use raw beets, simply peel and wash the beetroot, chop it into small pieces, and add it to your blender. If you prefer a creamier texture, you can opt for cooked beets. To cook beets for your smoothie, you can roast, boil, steam, or mash them. Just make sure to let them cool down before adding them to your blender.
Regardless of whether you use raw or cooked beets, the preparation is generally the same. First, peel and chop your beets. You can also add other ingredients to your smoothie for extra flavor and nutrition, such as leafy greens like spinach or kale, or spices like turmeric or ginger. Then, add your beets and other ingredients to a blender with a liquid base such as almond milk, coconut milk, or water. Finally, blend until smooth, adding more liquid as needed to achieve your desired consistency.
So, whether you prefer raw or cooked beets, you can easily incorporate them into your keto smoothie routine. Just remember to enjoy in moderation, as beets are high in sugar and carbohydrates, which can impact your ketosis.
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Beets are high in sugar and carbs, so keto smoothies use beets in moderation
Beets are a great source of nutrients, including folate, potassium, vitamin C, calcium, and fibre. They also contain nitrates, which are associated with reduced risk of heart disease and improved athletic performance. However, beets are high in sugar and carbohydrates, which can raise blood sugar levels and are not ideal for a keto diet.
For this reason, keto smoothies that include beets should use them in moderation. One option is to use beetroot powder, which has 4 grams of total carbs and 2 grams of net carbs per teaspoon. Another option is to use beet greens, which have a very low carb count—one cup of raw beet greens only contains 1.6 grams of total carbs and 0.2 grams of net carbs.
When making a keto smoothie with beets, it's important to pay close attention to your servings and eat them in very small amounts. Additionally, you can try using red cabbage or celery root as a replacement for the beets to reduce the carb count.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup almond milk or milk of choice
- 1 cup frozen blueberries or mixed berries
- 1 small beet, peeled and diced (about 8 ounces)
- 1/4 cup frozen pineapple
- 1/4 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt (use non-dairy yogurt to make it vegan)
- Optional sweetener: 1-2 teaspoons of honey or another sweetener of choice
- Optional mix-ins: chia seeds, hemp seeds, ground flax seeds, or a small amount of oatmeal
Directions:
- Place the almond milk, blueberries, beet, pineapple, and Greek yogurt in a high-speed blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Taste and add a little honey or another sweetener of choice if you desire a sweeter smoothie. Blend again.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to one day.
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Beets are a good source of fibre, vitamins and minerals
Beets are a good source of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. They are particularly rich in folate, manganese, copper, potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. Beets also contain vitamin B9, iron, and zinc.
Beets are a low-calorie food, but they are high in water, protein, and fibre. This combination of nutrients makes beets an excellent food for weight management. The fibre in beets helps to regulate blood sugars, increases feelings of fullness, and can lower blood cholesterol. Beets are also a good source of several key nutrients, including folate, manganese, and copper.
The health benefits of beets include improved heart health, lower blood pressure, enhanced exercise capacity, and improved digestive health. Beets have also been shown to reduce inflammation throughout the body, which may help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, and more.
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Beetroot powder is a keto-friendly alternative to beets
Beets are a great addition to a keto diet as they are high in fibre, vitamins, and minerals. However, they are also high in sugar and carbohydrates, which can raise blood sugar levels and disrupt ketosis. This is why beetroot powder is a keto-friendly alternative to beets.
Beetroot powder is made from raw beetroot juice and retains all the nutrients found in beetroots, including fibre, potassium, manganese, vitamin C, zinc, copper, and iron. It is also a source of polyphenols and betalains, which are natural antioxidants.
Beetroot powder is a convenient way to add the nutritional benefits of beets to your diet without the high sugar and carb content. It is easy to mix into water, juice, or a smoothie, and has a more palatable taste than beet juice.
When choosing a beetroot powder, it is important to check the ingredients and macros to ensure it is keto-friendly. Some beetroot powders, like KOS Organic Beet Root Powder, are high in net carbs and should be avoided on a keto diet. Look for products that are low in net carbs and free from non-keto ingredients like sugar, artificial sweeteners, and refined oils.
By using beetroot powder instead of beets, you can still enjoy the health benefits of this vegetable while staying within the macros required for ketosis.
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Beet greens are also keto-friendly
One cup of raw beet greens contains only 1.6 grams of total carbs and a mere 0.2 grams of net carbs. This means you can eat them raw or cooked without taking up too much of your daily net carb allowance.
Beet greens are also packed with nutrients. They are a good source of calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C. This makes them a healthy addition to your keto diet, providing essential vitamins and minerals while keeping you in a state of ketosis.
If you're looking to add some colour, flavour, and health benefits of beets to your keto smoothies, using beet greens is a great option. They have a milder flavour than beetroots, so they won't overpower your smoothie, and their vibrant colour will give your drink a beautiful pink or purple hue.
When preparing beet greens for smoothies, simply give them a good wash, remove any thick stems, and blend them with your other ingredients. You can also cook them before blending if you prefer, by steaming or sautéing them lightly.
- Blueberry Beet Smoothie: Blend together almond milk, frozen blueberries, beet greens, frozen pineapple, and Greek yogurt. Add a sweetener like honey or a date, and blend again.
- Beet Detox Smoothie: Combine raw or cooked beet greens with cucumber, celery, beetroot, almond milk, and a healthy fat like coconut oil or MCT oil. Blend until smooth, adding more almond milk if needed.
Remember, while beet greens are keto-friendly, beetroots should be consumed in moderation on a keto diet due to their higher carb and sugar content. However, if you're happy with your body weight and not strictly adhering to a strict keto diet, small amounts of beetroot can still be included in your smoothies.
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Frequently asked questions
Avocado, almond milk, coconut oil, berries, banana, pineapple, and spinach are all great ingredients to pair with beets in a keto smoothie.
Beets are low in calories and a great source of nutrients, including folate, potassium, vitamin C, and fiber. They may also help lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation.
Raw beets have a higher nutritional value than cooked beets, but cooked beets will make your smoothie creamier. If you use raw beets, be sure to peel and chop them before adding them to your blender.