If you’re referring to the viral headline “Doctors reveal eating beets causes…”, the missing part shouldn’t be something frightening like “cancer” or “kidney failure.” For most people, beets are a nutritious food.
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Northwestern Medicine
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🥗 What eating beets can actually cause
Red or pink urine/stool — called beeturia. It can look alarming but is usually harmless and temporary.
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Northwestern Medicine
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Lower blood pressure — beets contain natural nitrates that can increase nitric oxide and relax blood vessels. This may modestly lower blood pressure.
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Cleveland Clinic
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Digestive discomfort — larger amounts can cause gas, bloating or stomach upset in some people.
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Northwestern Medicine
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Potential kidney-stone risk in susceptible people — beets contain oxalates, which can contribute to calcium-oxalate stones in people who are prone to them.
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Cleveland Clinic
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❤️ And there are potential benefits
Beets provide fiber, folate, potassium and antioxidant plant compounds, and their nitrates may support blood-vessel function and exercise performance.
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Cleveland Clinic
Bottom line: For most people, eating a normal serving of beets is safe and healthy. If you have low blood pressure, take blood-pressure medication, have kidney disease, or have a history of kidney stones, discuss regular large amounts of beet juice or concentrated beet supplements with your clinician.
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Northwestern Medicine
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