This superfood salad brings together highly nourishing foods with an exquisite balance of flavors and textures. Beets are high in a phytonutrient called betaine. This highly important compound can be made in the body from choline, and can also be obtained from foods like shrimp, crab, beets, wheat bran, and wheat germ. Betaine (trimethylglycine) is part of the methylation cycle in the body and can be used to convert homocysteine to methionine. While reducing homocysteine, it also increases levels of SAMe in the body. SAMe is used in hundreds of metabolic reactions. For example, SAMe is used a cofactor for the COMT enzyme. One of the roles this enzyme plays in the body is in the metabolism of estrogens.
So increase your consumption of beets to increase betaine in the body, which will help keep your methylation cycles running smoothly—helping to balance your hormone levels and helping to decrease homocysteine levels in the body. Serve this summer salad with a bean dip and raw vegetables, or pan-fried shrimp for a superfood meal!
You'll need to pre-cook the beets at least an hour before making this salad. Use this Instant Pot pressure cooker method to lessen cooking time. This oven-roasted method takes longer and can be used if you do not own an Instant Pot.