Betaine, Beets and Spinach

I made some Beet Kvass from my new Nourishing Traditions cookbook this week. I just let it ferment for 4 days instead of 2 according to some internet guidance and probably could have used a little less sea salt.  It is said to be a tonic for the liver and kidneys and has been drank in Russia for over a 1000 years. In my cancer research I stumbled upon one of the main reasons beets are so healthy, betaine. There are 2 other pretty good sources of betaine including spinach and whole wheat. Due to gluten we are not taking the wheat route. I have read some recommendations to stay away from gluten during cancer, not to mention my child has autistic tendencies. I plan on doing more research on that later. Remember beet kvass has live active cultures, so consult your doctor if in neutropenic stage, probably better to go with beet juice if you have a juicer.

Research:

...They concluded that betaine supplementation increased power, force and maintenance in selected performance measures, and these were more apparent in the smaller upper-body muscle groups.
...works by donating methyl groups (CH3) that assist in over 100 reactions essential for normal cell function. The ingredient is also said to protect against the effects of dehydration by accumulating in cells and forming a monolayer of water around essential cell components.
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Danisco-gains-more-proof-for-betaine-s-sports-benefits

Beet Juice and Cancer (no source stated)
Beet juice has been proven therapeutic in the treatment of leukemia and cancer.  In a clinical trial, twenty-two patients with advanced inoperable cancers were given 10 oz. of beet juice daily for 3 to 4 months.  Twenty-one of these patients showed marked improvement in health.
http://www.freedomyou.com/fasting_book/Vegetable_Juice_Guide.htm

The USDA recognizes beets as a source of betaine, stating that it has been shown to provide anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and detox support in the body.
 http://www.livestrong.com/article/291527-food-sources-of-betaine/#ixzz13roOiOe2

...betaine also naturally increases glutathione levels within the liver, the body's most important antioxidant. Betaine works along with vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid to augment the formation of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), an important amino acid particularly concentrated in the human brain and liver. Recent studies in children with enzyme deficiencies confirm that betaine increases S-adenosylmethionine in the brain. Betaine has also been shown to raise beneficial S-adenosylmethionine levels within the liver, which helps the liver to metabolize fat and protect against alcohol-induced cirrhosis and other conditions. Betaine also decreases bilirubin, alkaline phosphotase and several other liver enzymes related to a large variety of liver disorders. Significant liver benefits have been shown in over 20 studies with betaine.
http://www.florahealth.com/flora/home/Canada/HealthInformation/Encyclopedias/Betaine.htm

From the previous article I looked up the significance of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-E)
...SAMe has a variety of other effects, such as methylation of phospholipids (with potential effects on membrane fluidity and receptor function)7,8,9 and methylation of proteins and nucleoproteins.10 A recent review mentioned over 35 methylation reactions involving SAMe
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC543840/

Then I wanted to know what "methylation of phospholipids" means
These closely associated biochemical changes facilitate the transmission of many signals through membranes, resulting in the generation of adenosine 3',5'-monophophate in many cell types, release of histamine in mast cells and basophils, mitogenesis in lymphocytes, and chemotaxis in neutrophils.

Now the AHA! moment. Mitogenesis refers to the dividing and multiplying DNA meaning more lymphocytes and chemotaxis means moving the neutrophils to the part of the body that needs it the most and this mechanism can be damaged during cancer so Betaine would lead to more SAM-E, which in turn would boost lymphocytes and move neutrophils where they need to go.
http://encyclopedia.farlex.com/mitogenesis
...chemotaxis in animals can be subverted during cancer metastasis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemotaxis


Recipe for Beet Kvass (with description and some changes, I personally let it ferment for 4 days):
http://bethstedman.com/2010/05/14/beet-kvass/