Can you eat raw beets?

According to Men's Health magazine, beets should be eaten fresh and raw, because heating them actually lowers their antioxidant power. The easiest way for people to prepare beets is to make a simple salad with olive oil and lemon.

Beets are round and red vegetables that grow underground. They have a mellow, sweet taste that pairs well with sharper flavors, such as goat cheese and lemon. Beets are rich in folate and betaine. These nutrients work together to lower the risk of heart disease. The natural pigments that give beets their color, which are called "betacyanins," have been proven to fight cancer in laboratory mice.