TIL that in the Middle Ages beetroot was used to treat illnesses related to digestion and the blood. In the mid 17th century wine was often colored with beetroot juice. And in Europe after WW1 food shortages caused many hardships, including mangelwurzel disease, caused by eating only beetroot.

https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Beetroot
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1g62yn1/til_that_in_the_middle_ages_beetroot_was_used_to/