Visitor Questions

Although beets are traditionally known as a liver tonic, there is relatively little scientific research in this area. At this time, preliminary research in test tube and animal research suggests that beets do exhibit antioxidant and detoxification properties that play a role in its potential liver protective effects. We actually feature the following overview of the detoxification properties of beets in our website article on beets:

The betalain pigments present in beets have repeatedly been shown to support activity in our body’s Phase 2 detoxification process. Phase 2 is the metabolic step that our cells use to hook activated, unwanted toxic substances up with small nutrient groups. This “hook up” process effectively neutralizes the toxins and makes them sufficiently water-soluble for excretion in the urine. One critical “hook up” 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 that require glutathione for excretion. 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 belongs in your diet.