Side effects of eating too many beets at once include gas, gut discomfort, and red urine or stool. Taking too high a dose of a beet supplement can cause lowered blood pressure – watch out, if you already have low blood pressure.
However, consuming large amounts of beetroot powder increases the risk of having side effects. People may have red or black colored stools and pink or red urine when eating more beets or beet products. These are usual side effects and are not harmful.
Anyone who has low blood pressure or is currently taking blood pressure medication should speak with a healthcare professional before adding beets or beetroot juice to their diet. Beets contain high levels of oxalates, which can cause kidney stones in people with a high risk of this condition.
Yes — beets are a good food choice, especially for people with type 2 diabetes. A 2021 study showed that participants who ate 100 g (about ⅔ cup) of raw beets daily for eight weeks showed improvements in cognitive function, glucose metabolism, and other metabolic markers.
Beetroot is said to have a hepatoprotective effect and it effectively keeps away fat from depositing in the liver.
Beets are high in fiber and promote the growth of good bacteria in your gut. Having plenty of healthy bacteria in your digestive system helps fight disease and boost your immune system. Fiber also improves digestion and reduces the risk of constipation.
Both eating beets and drinking beet juice will give you anti-inflammatory betalains and other phytonutrients. If you're looking to enhance athletic performance, drink up. Juicing beets delivers a concentrated dose of nitrates, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. However, you lose the fiber when you juice the beets.
Interactions With Other Drugs:
Beetroot juice is rich in nitrates, which might negatively interact with certain blood pressure-lowering medicines, leading to a severe drop in blood pressure. Beetroot juice is used in drug formulations because of the red pigment.
Beetroot is another one of the more significant natural blood thinners. The nitrates in beets are known to improve heart health and reduce blood pressure. Beetroot is also able to relieve blood clotting. One 2008 study found that consumption of beetroot juice increased nitrate levels and reduced platelet aggregation.
The fiber content in beets helps with regular bowel movements. It can also help with digestion as well as help promote good gut bacteria.
Reduced Inflammation
The stark red color of beets comes from compounds called betalains. Betalains have powerful antioxidant effects and can help reduce inflammation. Beets are also rich in nitrates, which reduce inflammation by removing harmful compounds from your bloodstream.
Beet Juice Benefits
In some studies, drinking about 2 cups of beet juice daily or taking nitrate capsules lowered blood pressure in healthy adults. Beet juice may also help your stamina when you exercise. In one study, people who drank beet juice for 6 days had better stamina during intense exercise.
Beets are an exceptionally nutritious vegetable. If you're concerned about nutrition, try to eat them raw. You can also juice them or lightly cook them for similar benefits.
Pickled beets also contain small amounts of vitamins and minerals. They are a good source of potassium, calcium, and iron. The micronutrient content of pickled beets varies depending on how the beets were processed. Because pickled beets are fermented, they are rich in probiotics.
When eating beets raw, make sure you wash them properly, preferably with warm water. It is good to eat beets only 3-4 times a week, not more. If you eat daily, make sure you eat it in limited quantities due to its high oxalate content. Pickled beets are high in sodium content.
Beetroot juice may help support liver and heart function, regulate blood pressure, and aid digestion. It may help maintain blood sugar levels and improve cognitive function. Excess consumption of beetroot juice may cause beeturia and increase the risk of kidney stones.
While fresh and powder beetroot have been known to support healthy circulation, pickled beets contain brine (high concentration of salt and water, sometimes added sugar) which is known to take away from some of the nitric oxide boosting benefits.
While there are no official guidelines on recommended daily intake, a cup of beet juice a day is typically harmless. According to a study, daily intake of 8.4 ounces of juice lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Yes, eating beets or drinking beet juice can give your urine and/or your stool a slightly reddish or pink tinge. This phenomenon, called beeturia, is usually not cause for alarm. Some studies show it affects up to 14 percent of the beet-eating population.
Beets Are a Good Source of Gut-Friendly Fiber
“Beets support a healthy gut microbiome — the collection of bacteria in your gut that helps regulate inflammation, immune function, mood, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels,” Cassetty explains.