Digestive distress? Try BEETS.

If you have followed me for any length of time, you've probably heard me talk about beets and digestion. Beets are a very overlooked root vegetable that provide the body with invaluable benefits.

Specifically, the liver and the gallbladder - both vital in digestion (and hormone balancing, but that's another post).

Beets are an excellent source of phytonutrients called betalains which provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support, including the thinning of viscous bile (needed for fat digestion). The detox provided by betalains includes support of some especially important Phase 2 detox steps involving glutathione. Glutathione is a necessary antioxidant that decreases aging, stress, and toxin exposure. Although you can see these betalain pigments in other foods (like the stems of chard or rhubarb), the concentration of betalains in the peel and flesh of beets gives you the best opportunity for these health benefits.

When digestion is a concern there can obviously be a number of root causes, however my three go-tos are: beets, apple cider vinegar, and eating in a rested (parasympathetic) state.

BEETS: Provides over all gallbladder and liver support (which is needed for fat digestion).

ACV: May help increase stomach acid (which is generally needed for protein digestion).

PARASYMPATHETIC: Your body is either in a stressed fight or flight state (sympathetic) or in a rest and digest state (parasympathetic). If you're stressed when you're eating, you simply will not digest.

Here are some of my favorite beet and ACV recipes:

Beet Juice Shot
ABC Slaw
Pre-Cooked Beets
Beets & Apples

 

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If you're interested in diving deeper into your own digestion, consider working with Lorraine through Nutritional Therapy.