How To Use Beets in a Smoothie

Beets! Who doesn’t love them. Once you get to know them, that is.

It’s true, beets can be a bit scary to people who have only ever had canned cooked beets at some family party years ago. But the truth is that there are so many other things going on with beets.

I wrote a whole blog post recently dedicated to betaine, which is one of the powerful nutrients found in beets.

But aside from that, beets are just a super versatile vegetable. And yes, they are great in smoothies.

Should you use Beets or Beet Powder?

Being that this is a blog devoted to smoothies and blending, I like to advocate using raw beets. Whole beets, and whole food for that matter whenever given the option.

There are some great beet powders available, but I would suggest using the whole beet when making a smoothie.

If you don’t have a beet on hand, then adding some beet powder to a smoothie is a great idea, but beets are cheap enough (even organic) and don’t require much effort to prepare that it’s worth using them whole.

One reason that I like using whole beets in my smoothies is that I don’t mind the excess sugars (the sugars are the natural kind like what you would get with carrots). Also, I’m not usually following strict keto diet which is one of the big selling points of beet powder.

Also, I tend to think that natural beet in the raw form is like anything else in the raw form when compared to a pill. You will normally get more benefit from the raw product than the pill.

There is a place for beet powders (especially if you don’t have time to make a smoothie and want to toss in some beet powder to your protein shake, for instance) but as a rule I advocate for a natural whole food smoothie.

 

Do You Have To Cook Beets for a Smoothie?

Not at all. You might have only ever eaten cooked beets, but that’s not something that you need to continue doing. Raw beets taste great! And they are super healthy.

In addition to having betaine, they also contain great nitric oxide (one reason that they are so popular with athletes).

You do not have to cook beets. However, you might want to cook them if you are not using a powerful blender.

The issue with blending beets in a blender has to do with how hard they are. It’s the same issue that you run into when you blend any sort of hard vegetables (carrots, for instance).

Root vegetables can pose a problem for cheap blenders. That’s why if you have a low powder belnder I suggest you roast or steam beets to soften them up first.

It will reduce some of the nutrient load, but it will also make the beets much easier to process.

Just do not cook them in oil or salt.

 

Should you Peel a Beet Before Blending It?

Technically you do not have to peel a beet, but I would suggest that you do.

Because a beet is a root vegetable, the skin tends to be dirty and get a lot of wear and tear.

Also, the skin of the beet is not more nutritious than the beetroot flesh.

That deep red interior that you see when you cut the beet open? That’s the good stuff.

Also, if you are not buying organic beets, then I would strongly advise you not to blend the skin.

When given the option, always choose an organic beet if you can. However, sometimes you don’t have that option.

In those cases, peel the skin before blending.

 

What other Fruit or Veggies Work With Beets?

When I am making a beet smoothie, I like to pair fruits or veggies that work well.

That means things that have a freshness to them (beets can be a bit earthy).

So, things like blueberries, raspberries, lemons, and apples.

The other great reason to mix berries with beets is that they both have powerful nutrients called Anthocyanins (they give the deep red and blue color to berries and beets).

For the vegetable list, I like dark leafy greens (a beet and kale smoothie is one of the healthiest smoothies around).

I would avoid making beet and carrot smoothies, because they are similar in flavor and texture.

If you want to mask the flavor of beets to start when you’re getting use to beet smoothies, use lemons or pineapple.

Can You Make A Beetroot Smoothie in a Nutribullet

Yes, you certainly can.

The Nutribullet is one of the best mid sized smoothie blenders on the market. And I’ve made delicious tasting beet smoothies with one.

The key to making a beetroot smoothie in a Nutribullet is to cut the beet into sections.

You don’t want to throw in a whole beet that is just so large. That will be trouble for the blender.

If you’re using a small or mid sized blender, you will sometimes have to precut some fruits or vegetables.

It’s the tradeoff you make for getting a smaller blender that is not as expensive as a Vitamix and doesn’t take up as much room.

Also, keep in mind the Nutribullelt is better at making a single serve smoothie than a Vitamix (they are too big).

 

Is There a Sugar Problem With Beets?

No. There’s not sugar problem with beets in a smoothie.

The common concern with beets and sugar is more relevant to people who juice beets.

When you are blending beets in a smoothie, you are not going to get as much sugar because you are also getting all of the fiber.

The sugar in beets is actually very healthy and good for you. It’s preferable to use this form of sugar rather than white sugar.

In many studies on beetroot juice and smoothies, the sugar is mentioned as a concern only for people who are diabetic. And that’s only when discussing beet juice.

As long as you’re blending and getting the fiber from the beet in the smoothie, the sugar is not a concern.

My Favorite Beet Smoothie Recipes

I am a big fan of beet smoothie recipes that incorporate berries or other tart fruits.

Blueberries work really well if you are looking for an antioxidant rich smoothie. 

You can get a big bag of organic blueberries from Costco or a local health food store.

I like frozen blueberries in my smoothies because it eliminates the need to use Ice and you still get a cold smoothie.

Here are some Blueberry Beet Smoothie Recipes

• Honey, Pineapple, Blueberry, Yogurt and Beet Smoothie

 

I’m also a big fan of combining cacao (that’s the main ingredient in chocolate) and beets.

Cacao is like chocolate, but without the guilt!

It’s a fantastic choice for brain and heart health.

• Amazing Cacao and Beet Smoothie Recipe

This smoothie is great for a lot of reasons. First, the flavors work really well. The natural sugars in the beets are the perfect way to naturally sweeten the cacao.

Also, not only will this combo improve cognitive function, but it will provide you a lot of minerals. Cacao is a food super rich in minerals such as Zinc.

The above recipe uses blackberries as well as a vegan milk to make a creamy and delicious beet smoothie. I didn’t have a ripe banana when I made this recipe, but it still turned out really creamy!

Beets and Kale Smoothies For Green Lovers

Of course not all beet smoothies need to have fruit as the main pairing.

I like to mix kale with beets to make a super healthy green smoothie.

The only caveat I would add to this is that you need to have a good blender for kale.

Kale, and other leafy greens, are very hard to blend in some of the entry level blenders. So stick with Nutribullet, Vitamix, or Ninja.

Here is a fun kale and beet recipe that also incorporates strawberries. 

I like this one because I don’t often blend up strawberries, and they are really great!

 

How To Use Beets In A Smoothie Pre-Workout

One of my favorite ways to use beets in a smoothie is to blend it for a pre-workout shake.

Beets are well known in the workout world as a killer vegetable. They improve oxygenation and blood flow.

Beets are also great because they are a natural source of nitrates. In fact, they are commonly found in the ingredient list of pre-workout supplements.

I like to avoid beet powders and pre-workout mixes and just make a plain beet smoothie. It will have natural nitrates (which are great for workout and blood flow).

My suggestion though would be to make it a light smoothie, one with less nut butter and more berries.

That way you won’t get weighed down after a workout.

If you’re making a post-workout smoothie, then I would advocate for the nut butter addition since it adds protein post-workout.