Beets are members of the spinach and chard family.  The beetroot with it’s earthy taste and the bitter beet greens are high if folic acid and vitamins A, B, and C.  Also they contain potassium, calcium, betacyanin (antioxidant), calcium, copper, iron, iodine, manganese.

Because of the iron content beets are powerful blood purifiers.  This offers a multitude of health benefits and can improve the following conditions:

• constipation
• cancer
• anemia
• gallbladder and kidney ailments
• ulcers
• anemia

Detoxification

Beets and stimulate enzymes in the liver.   For this reason they give support to detoxification and fight cancer.  Juice cleanse recipes often utilize beet roots and greens for their detox qualities.

Heart Health

Beets create nitric oxide in the blood, which dilates blood vessels and thus lowers blood pressure.  Healthy HDL cholesterol is raised by the fiber contained in beets. (Remember that fiber is removed when juicing, so to include the benefits of fiber you must eat the vegetable in its whole form.)

Energy

Beets increase the oxygen in the blood by as much as 400%.  This provides you with energy and stamina.

Tip for Juicing Beets

It’s important to repeat that beets are powerful cleansers.  When beets are juiced, the fiber is removed but the sugars remain. The detox process may be rapid and may cause you to become light-headed and experience detox symptoms.  Drink plenty of water to help flush the toxins out.

Beets can be juiced with most any other vegetables.  For your first juice cleanse with beets, use only 1/4 beet in a recipe  to determine how your body will react.  Then add more accordingly.

More Information

Nutritional information on beets Nutrition Data

Beet Pigments May Help Prevent Cancer Report

Beetroot Therapy from Annie Appleseed Project

It is vital to get the colon functioning properly.  Natural methods will have better long term results over harsh chemical laxatives.  While a lifestyle change may be in order, there are some things that you can do today to bring relief of constipation and begin to get your colon healthy again.  Here are three steps toward feeling better:
     1.  Drink more water – Health experts recommend drinking 6-8 glasses of water per day.  More specifically, some recommend that you calculate half of your body weight, then drink that many ounces of water (150lbs = 75oz).  If drinking water is just too boring for you, try adding a slice of lemon or a splash of cranberry juice (no sugar added). 
     2.  Start an herbal cleanse – Many herbs can help soothe and benefit the colon.  Fiber is usually at the top of the list here because it helps the colon contract while helping the stool retain more water and bulk up for easier elimination.  Other herbs relax, stimulate and lubricate so stools move down the digestive tract more easily and faster.  Still other herbs can be used to support the liver and bloodstream, which are important to the detoxification process.  When doing an herbal cleanse it is best to consult a health practitioner or use a quality product from a health food store.  I personally use and recommend
ReNew Life Organic Total Body Cleanse. 
     3.  Do a juice cleanse – After doing the steps above, your colon will deserve a nice rest.  A two to three day juice cleanse will provide your body with healthy vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.  Try some juices with apples, pears, parsley, greens, strawberries, artichokes, beets, and asparagus.  They help stimulate the regular function of the intestines and provide vitamin C and calcium/magnesium.

Juice cleansing does relieve the colon of the task of digesting so that it may cleanse itself.  But relying on juice to do all your cleansing is a mistake.  That’s where the “cleanse to juice” approach comes in.  I can’t stress enough how important it is to start changing your diet and routine BEFORE the cleanse.  Cut out the caffeine.  Add more fruits and veggies.  Anything that builds up your general health and digestion is part of the cleansing process and will help to ensure success with your juice cleanse.

Many people who use the first method are forced to quit early due to emotional and physical side effects of many toxins exiting the body all at once.  Do yourself a favor.  Ease into cleansing.  Consider the “cleanse to juice” mentality and fully engage in a new health routine.  You may even enjoy it!

The best cleansing program for the fall season targets the colon by giving it proper nutrition and support for the coming months. Liquid juice fasts should be kept to a minimum, perhaps one to two days, as the body needs fuel to keep warm. Use fresh greens and vegetables that are in season during the juice cleanse.

Fiber is important to colon health, so some people choose to keep the fiber in their juices by blending them in the mixer, rather than using a juice machine. After the cleanse, additional fiber should be taken to maintain the colon so it doesn’t get “stuck” during the winter. In addition to fibrous foods, the diet can be supplemented with psyllium husks, flax seed, oat bran, or acacia fiber.

So why do some experts tell you to stay away from fruits when juice cleansing? These fruits, while beneficial, also contains a lot of sugar. Natural, yes, but sugar nonetheless. I have found that when I’m juicing, if I consume too many fruits, it makes me rather shaky. This is because fruits actually speed up the detoxifying process. Detoxifying too quickly can cause many side effects.

If you want to add fruits into your juice detox plan, I suggest limiting them to your morning juice, or adding only one type of fruit to a vegetable juice blend. Prepare for your cleanse by eliminating processed foods and caffeine at least one week prior. This may help reduce side effects.

Should people with diabetes avoid eating fruits? Here is Dr. Andrew Weil’s viewpoint.