What is it that make beets such a powerful liver detoxifier?
“Beets and beet tops are the richest source of betaine, a natural liver detoxifier and bile thinner.” By thinning the bile, the flow is facilitated which serves to greatly relieve low grade constipation, which plagues much of sedentary Western society. As a root vegetable, beets are also known to increase the regularity of bowel movements which allows the passed gallstones to exit the GI tract.
There are many other health benefits which come from eating beets on a regular basis. Here’s a nice list which will motivate those who might have been turned off by canned beets as a kid.
Eight Health Benefits
(1) Beet juice is alkaline and helps stave off acidosis, a harbinger of all diseases.
(2) Beet juice helps stimulate liver cells and cleanse and protect bile ducts. It also helps relieve the kidneys of stress to help cure gout. It also helps relieve constipation.
(3) Beets help cleanse the blood and create more red blood cells. They are useful for treating and curing anemia. Heavy daily beet consumption has even been used to treat leukemia and other cancers. With normal consumption, one can benefit from beets’ anti-carcinogenic properties.
(4) Red beets and their leaves are a high source of folate, which is the natural base of folic acid. Folate helps build tissue and red blood cells. Folic acid from folate is more beneficial for pregnant women than folic acid synthetically derived. It is healthier long term to depend on folate rather than to use folic acid supplements. Unfortunately, the two terms are misused interchangeably.
(5) Beets contain lots of lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which help prevent or even cure macular degeneration and other age related eye issues.
(6) Beets are a high source of phytonutrients called betalains. Beet betalains provide strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support.
(7) Beets help lower blood pressure, maintain blood vessel elasticity, and even help eliminate varicose veins.
(8) Beets are high in fiber, potassium, magnesium, niacin, calcium, iron, and biotin.[2]
Caveat to those with sugar problems:
Make no mistake – beets are sweet. So sweet that beet sugar is manufactured from white sugar beets. Therefore, for those with any kind of sugar problems, the best way to take them is in the form of a borscht. Juicing beets and then mixing them with carrot or apple juice is a big mistake. Too much sweet, too fast, and in a highly concentrated form. It’s not really a good practice for anyone to drink too much beet juice on a regular basis.
NEXT: Beet Borscht Beet Borscht: A Natural Way to Cleanse a Congested Liver
