If you are a person who thinks about exposure to toxins and wants to give your body as much detox support as possible, beets are a food that needs to be in your diet. Research over the past few years has discovered just how important red beets are in the human diet. Red beet roots and beet juice 

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have a remarkable amount of healing power. Beets are a very good source of dietary fiber, potassium, manganese, folate, Vitamin C, zinc and iron. Red beets also contain polyphenols and betalains. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,polyphenols, a type of antioxidant, are clinically proven to prevent cardiovascular disease in humans. Studies suggest that polyphenols fromred beets and even red beet juice could be beneficial in cancer, osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative disease cases. The second wonderful source of nutrients that beets contain is called betalains. The detoxification provided by betalains includes some especially important Phase 2 detox steps involving glutathione. For detailed information on the detoxification process, refer to my book “Toxic Relief”.

Antioxidant Benefits
Beets are an important phytonutrient rich vegetable and they are loaded with a powerful mix of antioxidants unlike most other foods. Most red vegetables get their deep color from anthocyanins. Beets are unique because of their deep red hue coming from betalain antioxidant pigments. Because they are loaded with antioxidants vitamin C and manganese as well, beets are a premier source of nutrition. About one and a quarter cups from red beet juice daily has been clinically demonstrated to be enough to combat the effects of free radical damage and oxidative stress.

Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Many of the unique phytonutrients present in beets also have anti-inflammatory properties. Heart disease and atherosclerosis are characterized by chronic inflammation. Beets may be helpful for example, in preventing the chronic inflammation of heart disease. Preliminary studies are also finding beets to be helpful in Type 2 diabetes which is a major national health problem associated with chronic inflammation.

Other Health Benefits
Red beets provide potential anti-cancer benefits and fiber-related benefits. The combination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients in beets make them highly recommended for reducing the risk of many cancers. Lab studies on human tumor cells are optimistic for the possibility of helping colon, stomach, lung, breast and testicular cancers. Beet fiber has also been a nutrient of increasing interest in health research. All food fiber is sometimes put into one single category called “dietary fiber,” but there is evidence that all dietary fiber may not be the same. Beet fiber (as well as carrot fiber) are two specific types of fiber that seem to provide extra benefits, especially with the health of our digestive tract and even in the prevention of colon cancer. Red beet fiber also may provide benefits for our cardiovascular system.

The Healthiest Way to Cook Beets
Don’t cook beets for too long. Studies show beets concentration of phytonutrients, such as betalains, is diminished by heat. We recommend steaming beets for 15 minutes to maximize their nutritional value. Beets are cooked when you can easily insert a fork or the tip or knife into the beet. If you would like to enjoy red beets raw, add red beets to your morning juice routine or grate some peeled red beets over a salad.

2 Comments

  1. Mayer says:

    We would kale, spinach, relaly good onions and garlic, beets (my favorite), different types of lettuce, berries, bananas, peaches, tomatoes, mangos, papayas every 2 weeks we would just get a box with maybe 30+ pounds of produce. A lot of seasonal things are grown year round down there, so that made cooking for Betty easy. Not all of it was locally grown in South Florida, some would come from Georgia or other Southern states.

  2. Lori says:

    what is the best fiber for a bowl movement??

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