If you’ve eaten beets before, you may have noticed something unusual afterward.

Your urine or stool can sometimes turn pink, red or reddish-purple.

This is called beeturia.

It can look alarming the first time you see it, but beet pigments can pass through the digestive system and change the color of urine or stool.

Of course, not every episode of red urine or bloody stool should automatically be blamed on beets.

If you haven’t recently eaten something capable of causing the color change, or if you’re unsure about what you’re seeing, it’s worth discussing with a healthcare professional.

10. Should Everyone Drink Beet Juice?

Not necessarily.

Whole beets are perfectly reasonable for most people as part of a varied diet.

But concentrated beetroot juice is a different matter because it can provide a much larger nitrate dose than an ordinary serving of vegetables.

And if you’re taking medication for blood pressure, have a condition affected by potassium intake, or have other medical concerns, it’s sensible to discuss frequent use of concentrated beet products with your healthcare professional.

Most people don’t need a large daily “shot” of beet juice to eat healthfully.

Food first is often the simpler approach.

The Bottom Line

Beets deserve their reputation as a nutritious vegetable, but they don’t need exaggerated health claims to make them interesting.

Their natural nitrate content is particularly noteworthy because research suggests nitrate-rich foods and beetroot products can modestly improve blood-pressure measurements and vascular function in some circumstances.

Beets also provide fiber, folate, potassium and other nutrients.

What they don’t provide is a magical detox, guaranteed cholesterol reduction or cure for heart disease.

And fermented beets can be an interesting food, but safe fermentation practices matter and the term “probiotic” shouldn’t automatically be applied to every fermented vegetable.

So instead of thinking of beets as medicine, think of them as something simpler:

A colorful, nutrient-rich vegetable that can be a smart addition to an overall healthy diet.