Though red-tinged pee or poop is never a welcome sight in the toilet, it may not be cause for alarm if you've recently eaten beets. Here's what you need to know about beeturia (and when it's time to call your doctor):
Can Beets Make Your Pee (And Poop) Red or Pink?
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. While occasional beeturia in and of itself is harmless, you should definitely consult a doctor if you're experiencing discoloration every time you ingest the root vegetable. This could be a sign of underlying conditions. If you have discolored pee or poop more than a day or so after eating beets, call your doctor immediately — this could indicate bleeding, and should be examined ASAP.
Betanin, a compound in beets, gives the veggie its vibrant red hue. Some bodies aren't able to completely break down this compound during digestion. This can result in red-tinged urine or stool. Occasional beeturia is normal. However, if it happens often, it may be a sign of iron deficiency or low stomach acid.
Beeturia and Anemia
Anemia, or iron deficiency, occurs when you don't have enough healthy blood cells to carry oxygen to your body's tissues. This condition can affect your ability to absorb certain pigments. While beeturia can affect up to 14 percent of people, the rate is much higher in people who have anemia (up to 80 percent of iron deficient people experience beeturia).
Consult your doctor if you're concerned about iron deficiency. The condition can be diagnosed with a simple blood test. You can also eat iron-rich foods, like spinach and liver, to prevent anemia.
Beeturia and Low Stomach Acid
Beeturia can also indicate low stomach acid. Stomach acid helps your body metabolize vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. When your acid levels are low, your body may not be able to break down betanin as it should.
Other signs and symptoms of low stomach acid include:
Constipation
Heartburn or acid reflux
Gas and/or bloating
Nausea
Cramping
Talk to your doctor if you suspect you have low stomach acid.
Other Causes of Red or Pink Urine or Stool
Even if you suspect your red or pink urine or stool is a result of beeturia, you should consult your doctor if it happens often or continues days after you've eaten beets. Blood in stool or urine can indicate serious health conditions that need immediate diagnosis and treatment.
Health Benefits of Beets
While all this talk of beeturia isn't exactly appetizing, there are plenty of reasons to eat beets. High in fiber, folate, vitamin C, iron, and potassium, the tasty root veggie packs a seriously nutritious punch. Here are just a few things beets may be able to do:
Promote healthy digestion, thanks to high fiber content.
Lower blood pressure and improve exercise capacity, thanks to high levels of nitric oxide.
Promote weight loss or weight management, as beets have few calories compared to their rich nutrient content.
Beet Recipes
Incorporate more beets into your diet with one of these delicious recipes:
Betanin is the beetroot pigment that is absorbed by the body upon eating beets, and as a result, may turn your poop and pee pink or red for up to 48 hours after consumption—a phenomenon called beeturia. It's generally harmless and no cause for concern.
The urine color change may appear in the first few hours after drinking something containing beetroot. It may continue for a day or two after eating the coloring, especially in the stool.
Some people cannot break the pigment down and this results in excretion of the pigment in urine and feces. The rest of the beetroot is digested and no nutrients should be lost. This usually lasts 48 hours, but it can vary in people who have a slow or faster rate of passing feces.
Beet is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth in medicinal amounts. Beet can make urine or stools appear pink or red. But this is not harmful. There is concern that beets might cause low calcium levels and kidney damage.
Although the phenomenon of beeturia is not considered harmful, it may be a possible indicator to investigate the patient's iron metabolism. Individuals with iron deficiency and/or excess (hemochromatosis), or specific problems with iron metabolism are much more likely to experience beeturia [3, 6].
Is beet juice always bad for kidneys? Actually, it's not. Unless a person is at risk for kidney stones, beets may be key to reducing the risk of renal (kidney) failure during and after a heart x-ray. Coronary angiography is a specialized test allowing doctors to view the heart's blood vessels in action.
Because the intake of iron, bismuth or foods like beets can give the stool the same appearance as bleeding from the digestive tract, a doctor must test the stool for blood before offering a diagnosis.
How Beets Cleanse Your Colon. Beets are rich in antioxidants and high in fiber that can help pull toxins into the colon where they can be evacuated. Because fiber isn't digested by your body like other food components, such as fats, proteins or carbohydrates, it feeds friendly gut bacteria.
Beetroot. Chock-full of antioxidants and nitrates, beetroot has earned its stripes as a potent weapon for heart health, blood pressure, cognition, and inflammation. But when it comes to liver health, this resplendently red root also serves as a natural blood cleanser, purging your body of toxins and heavy metals.
It's important to note that blood nitrate levels peak within 2–3 hours of consuming beets or their juice. Therefore, it's best to consume them a couple of hours before training or competing to maximize their potential benefits ( 16 ).
Who Should Avoid Beetroot? Beets are high in oxalates, which can lead to kidney stones. If you've had kidney stones, avoid beets or eat them only as a rare treat. Oxalates can also contribute to gout, a type of arthritis, so eat beets sparingly if you're at risk.
While it may seem like a good idea to have beets daily because of their benefits, you may need to exercise caution when eating them. Eating beets or drinking beet juice may lead to kidney stones, a potential food allergy, or stool or urine color changes.
One concern with eating beets is that eating a lot of beets may cause gout. Gout is an extremely painful condition caused by an increased uric acid level in your blood. The oxalates found in beets can increase your uric acid level, meaning that too many beets can lead to gout.
The beet test allows you to get a sense of whether you fall into that ideal 12-24 hour range, since you'll be able to see the bright red pigment in your stools. Fiery red poop 24 hours or more later means you've got a “slow transit time,” also known as constipation—a common result of the beet test.
Since beets are a great blood purifier, they also help to keep skin radiant and glowing. The vitamin C found in beets also helps to keep blemishes and breakouts at bay.
Can Beets Make Your Pee (And Poop) Red or Pink? 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.
How long it takes for beet juice to lower blood pressure can vary. However, a 2008 study stated that beet juice lowers blood pressure in about 3 hours. Research suggests that drinking beet juice daily for at least 60 days provides the most benefits, helping significantly improve hypertension.
Sometimes, the urine appears to have blood in it because there are other red substances (pigments) in the urine. This can happen if you eat an excessive amount of beets (called beeturia), food dyes, or certain medications (such as phenazopyridine/Pyridium).
Beets and beet juice are high in nitrates, substances that turn into nitric oxide inside your body. Your body naturally produces nitric oxide, which is crucial for blood vessel health. Nitric oxide relaxes and widens your arteries, allowing more blood to flow through and significantly lowering blood pressure.
If there is no pain, it could be a sign of kidney or bladder cancer. It's very important to call your physician if you notice red/pink urine and you aren't experiencing any pain. A rare blood disease called polycythemia vera, can also cause red urine.
Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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