by Kelley Herring
Betacyanin-the pigment that gives beets their rich, purple-crimson color - is also a powerful cancer-fighting agent.
A recent animal study published in the journal Carcinogenesis found that beet fiber increases the activity of two antioxidant enzymes in the liver, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase. Because the liver is the body's primary detoxification center, free radicals are generated when toxic substances are broken down and eliminated. Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase serve as the body's antioxidant defense system, acting as bodyguards for liver cells.
Another animal study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that subjects fed beet fiber had an increase in the number of immune cells in the colon - called CD8 cells - which are responsible for detecting and eliminating abnormal cells. The animals in the study given beet fiber also had fewer pre-cancerous changes than the animals in the control group.
Try roasting beets with a pinch of Celtic sea salt and adding to you favorite salads. You can also grate them raw for a fresh and delicious twist.
High Blood Sugar = High Colon Cancer Risk
When you metabolize carbohydrates, your body produces insulin. And when the insulin switch is flipped to the “on” position, another compound is made at the same time: C-peptide.
The more insulin you make… the more C-peptide you make. A recent study of more than 15,000 men found that those with the highest levels of C-peptide were 300% more likely to develop colon cancer as those with the lowest.
Flip your insulin – and your colon cancer switch – OFF! Learn how in Your Guide to Living a Low-Glycemic Lifestyle and discover the safe levels of C-peptide and how to get tested in 20 Lifesaving Tests Your Doctor Hasn’t Performed (And Should!).
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