24. Beets
“Beets are a source of phytonutrients called betalains,” Alicia Galvin MEd, RD, LD, CLT, IFNCP, says.
“Betanin is one of the best-studied betalains from beets and has been shown to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support. The pigments present in beets have been shown to support activity in our body’s Phase 2 detoxification process. Phase 2 is the metabolic step that our cells use to bind unwanted toxic substances up with small nutrient groups. This binding process effectively neutralizes the toxins and makes them sufficiently water-soluble for excretion in the urine. One critical binding process during Phase 2 involves an enzyme family called the glutathione-S-transferase family (GSTs). GSTs hook toxins up with glutathione for neutralization and excretion from the body. The betalains found in beet have been shown to trigger GST activity, and to aid in the elimination of toxins.”
