You are trying to access subscriber-only content.

If you are a subscriber, log in here.

If you are not a subscriber, or are only subscribed to the print edition, click here to subscribe now. Digital subscribers have unlimited access to our magazine articles and more!

The Folklore. The ancient Romans considered beet juice an aphrodisiac. They also used beets to treat fevers and constipation. The French discovered the sweetness of sugar beets when Britain cut off its sugarcane supply during the Napoleonic wars. The Facts. Americans refer to this root vegetable (Beta vulgaris) simply as beets, but the rest of […]