And eating beets can increase your energy level, boost your brain power, and improve your immune system.Even though beeturia isn’t usually a cause for concern and dissipates on its own, red or pink urine after eating beets can sometimes indicate problems with your health.A study found that this condition occurs in about 66 to 80 percent of people with untreated iron deficiency anemia.A healthy level of stomach acid helps your body absorb minerals, nutrients, and vitamins.Because low stomach acid can make it difficult to digest and absorb nutrients, your body may have trouble metabolizing the red pigment in beetroot.Diagnosing beeturia Even if you believe the pigment in beetroot is responsible for red or pink urine, you should still speak with your doctor if discoloration happens often.Your doctor can use this test to check your kidney function by examining your urine for traces of blood and bacteria.Your doctor can use this test to check your kidney function by examining your urine for traces of blood and bacteria.When an iron deficiency or low stomach acid is responsible for red or pink urine, getting rid of beeturia involves treating the underlying problem.Your doctor may even suggest a digestive enzyme, such as Betaine HCL with pepsin, to increase the acid level in your stomach.While there’s no treatment for beeturia when tests rule out other conditions, drinking more water increases urination and helps flush the pigment out of your body sooner. .
Why beetroot turns poop and pee red
The technical term for the presence of the red beetroot pigments in urine or stool is beeturia.Scientists from the Universities of Bologna and Urbino in Italy recently showed that betalains can kill colon cancer cells in laboratory studies.Researchers from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom found a link between oxalic acid, which is a key component of most kidney stones, and beeturia.Oxalic acid is present in many foods, including spinach, rhubarb, and cocoa powder. .
Can Beets Make Your Pee Red?
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.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.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.Anemia, or iron deficiency, occurs when you don't have enough healthy blood cells to carry oxygen to your body's tissues.Stomach acid helps your body metabolize vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.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.High in fiber, folate, vitamin C, iron, and potassium, the tasty root veggie packs a seriously nutritious punch.Lower blood pressure and improve exercise capacity, thanks to high levels of nitric oxide.bowl of beet soup with sour cream and dill Credit: NINJETTE. .
Changes in Urine; Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Normal urine is yellowish in color, ranging from clear to deep amber.Asparagus or beets can harmlessly change the odor and color of urine, for example.Other times, changes in urine may be the result of a more serious underlying medical condition.It is more frequently seen in adult women, since a change in urine is a common symptom of urinary tract infections.For example: Stomach acid reducer Tagamet® can turn urine a blue shade.Phenazopyridine (Pyridium®), a drug used to treat urinary tract and bladder pain, can also give urine an orange hue.Greenish or cloudy urine may be symptomatic of a urinary tract infection.Changes in urine odor can also be caused by diet, vitamins or medication.This is usually the harmless result of the speed of urination and can appear after eating certain foods.For this reason, it is important to seek medical attention promptly if you notice any changes lasting for a period of time, or which do not seem tied to your diet.If your urine is red (not associated with menstruation) or black (tea-colored) you should contact your healthcare provider without waiting.The doctor will also ask about any dietary or medicine changes and how much water or liquids you are drinking.These questions will help determine if an underlying condition could be causing the changes in your urine.The test looks for blood, protein, inflammation (urinalysis), and possibly bacteria that could be causing an infection (urine culture) if a UTI is suspected.A blood test may also be taken to check for possible kidney damage, diabetes, or a buildup of liver enzymes. .
Urine color
Many over-the-counter and prescription medications give urine vivid tones, such as red, yellow or greenish blue.But urine can turn colors far beyond what's normal, including red, blue, green, dark brown and cloudy white.If your urine is dark or orange — particularly if you also have pale stools and yellow skin and eyes — your liver might be malfunctioning.In some cases, though, changes in urine color can be caused by specific health problems.Factors that can cause urinary blood (hematuria) include urinary tract infections, an enlarged prostate, cancerous and noncancerous tumors, kidney cysts, long-distance running, and kidney or bladder stones.Factors that can cause urinary blood (hematuria) include urinary tract infections, an enlarged prostate, cancerous and noncancerous tumors, kidney cysts, long-distance running, and kidney or bladder stones.Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), an antibiotic often used to treat tuberculosis, can turn urine reddish orange — as can phenazopyridine (Pyridium), a drug that numbs urinary tract discomfort, and laxatives containing senna.In some cases, orange urine can indicate a problem with your liver or bile duct, especially if you also have light-colored stools.Dyes used for some tests of kidney and bladder function can turn urine blue.A number of medications produce blue or green urine, including amitriptyline, indomethacin (Indocin, Tivorbex) and propofol (Diprivan).A number of medications produce blue or green urine, including amitriptyline, indomethacin (Indocin, Tivorbex) and propofol (Diprivan).Green urine sometimes occurs during urinary tract infections caused by pseudomonas bacteria.Eating large amounts of fava beans, rhubarb or aloe can cause dark brown urine.Eating large amounts of fava beans, rhubarb or aloe can cause dark brown urine.A number of drugs can darken urine, including the antimalarial drugs chloroquine and primaquine, the antibiotics metronidazole (Flagyl) and nitrofurantoin (Furadantin), laxatives containing cascara or senna, and methocarbamol — a muscle relaxant.A number of drugs can darken urine, including the antimalarial drugs chloroquine and primaquine, the antibiotics metronidazole (Flagyl) and nitrofurantoin (Furadantin), laxatives containing cascara or senna, and methocarbamol — a muscle relaxant.Some liver and kidney disorders and some urinary tract infections can turn urine dark brown.Some liver and kidney disorders and some urinary tract infections can turn urine dark brown.Muscle injury from extreme exercise can result in pink or cola-colored urine and kidney damage.Urinary tract infections and kidney stones can cause urine to appear cloudy or murky.Factors that put you at risk of medical conditions that can affect urine color include:. .
Why does eating beets turn my pee and poop red? Are there any
The beetroot pigment called betanin is responsible for the red coloring in urine and feces and this should not cause any health concerns. .
The Meaning Behind the Color of Urine
As a general rule of thumb, it's usually a good sign for your health when the color of your urine is a pale shade of yellow or clear.A major risk factor for kidney stones is constant low urine volume.Eating large amounts of fava beans can cause dark brown urine.Phenazopyridine(Pyridium), a drug that numbs urinary tract discomfort, and laxatives containing senna can turn your urine reddish orange .The antidepressant amitriptyline, the pain reliever indomethacin (Indocin, Tivorbex) and the anesthetic propofol (Diprivan) may turn your urine blue or green. .
The Real Reason Beets Turn Your Urine Red
If you've ever eaten beets and been alarmed by what you later saw in the bathroom, chances are you've experienced beeturia, a phenomenon that affects about 10 to 14 percent of people.Even though it can be alarming to see the porcelain bowl full of scarlet liquid post-beet binge, it's nothing to be worried about, and is just one of the many weird things that food can do to your body.When that's the case, the betanin is flushed through the kidneys along with the rest of your urine, turning it pink or red on the way. .
The Health Benefits of Beets – Cleveland Clinic
They get their jewel-like hue from betalains, a type of natural plant pigment that provides a health boost.Those good-for-you pigments do have one small downside, however: “They can turn your urine bright red,” Skoda warns.Fiber can help you control blood sugar levels, maintain a healthy weight, lower cholesterol and stay regular.Fiber can help you control blood sugar levels, maintain a healthy weight, lower cholesterol and stay regular.“That can help with blood pressure and may also improve athletic performance and brain function.”.“That can help with blood pressure and may also improve athletic performance and brain function.” Vitamins and minerals: “Beets — and beet greens — are a good source of folate, a B-vitamin that’s especially important during pregnancy,” Skoda explains.Red and purple beets are especially high in a type of betalain called betacyanins.Yellow or golden beets are packed with a different group of betalain, called betaxanthins.“If you don’t love beets’ earthy flavor, mixing it into a dip balances it a bit,” Skoda says.“You can also slice them thin and dry them in the oven to make crunchy beet chips,” Skoda says.But juice can be a good way to kick up the beets if you’re using them for a brain boost or athletic enhancement, Skoda says.You can even find powdered beet juice supplements in the fitness section of groceries or vitamin stores.Before you start beet-loading, a word of caution: Beets are rich in oxalates, which can contribute to kidney stones.If you have kidney stones, it’s best to enjoy beetroots and beet greens in moderation, Skoda says. .
