Detoxifying Beetroot & Blueberry bowl

I am on a little beetroot buzz lately. It is such a wonderful vegetable. As with all the wonderful purple veggies, beetroot is an extraordinarily rich source of antioxidants. 

It's great sources of:
- Vitamin C
- Flavonoids
- Carotenoids
- Betalains (the compound that gives beetroot it's purple colour)
- Fibre

The betalains are believed to contribute to beetroots antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. The betalains protect against oxidative damage to DNA. Some studies suggest beetroot consumption may have many physiological benefits for conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dementia and chronic inflammatory disorders such as osteoarthritis. 
Notably, betanin ingestion has shown to increase activity of detoxifying enzymes (such as glutathione) required for phase 2 liver detoxification. That is a very good thing!

Beetroot & blueberry Bowl liver health

Detoxifying Beetroot & Blueberry bowl

  • 1/2 a beetroot - grated
  • 1/4 cup of frozen/fresh blueberries
  • 1 banana
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • Big pinch of cinnamon
  • 1 cup of coconut/almond milk

Blend all ingredients together in a blender. Pour into a bowl and top with whatever desired. I did buckinis, cacao nibs and coconut shreds cos I like some crunch in my bowls!

* in winter I like to warm smoothie bowls on stove top. If the body wants warming food, listen to it. 

References:
Clifford, C, Howatson, G, West D, Stevenson, E 2015, 'The Potential Benefits of Red Beetroot Supplementation in Health and Disease' Nutrients, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 2801- 2822  

Nutrition, RecipesElle EastwoodElle Eastwood Naturopathybeetroot, nutrition, smoothie, bowl, antioxidant, blueberry, #liver, #liverhealth