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Beet
Root: The pectin in beets, a soluble fiber, binds toxins,
heavy metals and excess hormones that have been dumped into the
gut from the liver. They are passed out instead of being
reabsorbed. In one study, one group of animals, purposely given
colon cancer, received a diet high in beet fiber while another
group acted as controls. The animals that were fed beet fiber
showed an increase in the activity of two antioxidant enzymes in
the liver, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase.
The liver is the body’s primary detoxifying organ where toxic
substances are broken down and eliminated. This process
generates lots of free radicals. Glutathione peroxidase and
glutathione-S-transferase are the bodyguards for liver cells
against free radicals. In other studies, beet fiber showed an
increase in their number of CD8 cells, special immune cells
responsible for eliminating abnormal cells. Conclusive evidence
by researchers shows a relationship between a high fiber diet
and lower chances of colorectal cancer. Insoluble fiber moves
potential carcinogens through the intestines faster decreasing
their contact time with the colon wall. Soluble fiber absorbs
bile acids stopping them from acting on bacteria to produce
fecapentanes, the cancerous substances that are formed by
decaying foods within the colon. There are about 20 of these
compounds that can mutate colon cells into cancerous cells.
Fiber also promotes the growth of healthy bacteria that crowd
out unhealthy bacteria that produce fecapentanes. |
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