Beet Benefits: What Doctors Say Happens When You Eat Beets Regularly

Beets are one of those vegetables that can look surprisingly simple while containing a fascinating combination of nutrients and plant compounds. From supporting healthy blood pressure to providing dietary fiber and natural nitrates, beets may offer several benefits when included as part of a balanced diet. But what actually happens inside the body when you eat them regularly?

Chapter 1: Why Beets Deserve More Attention

Beets have been eaten for generations, but they have recently attracted considerable attention because of their naturally occurring dietary nitrates.

These compounds are converted by the body through a series of steps into nitric oxide, a molecule involved in blood-vessel relaxation and circulation.

That doesn't mean beets are a medicine or that eating them will automatically prevent disease. However, research has found that nitrate-rich foods may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular function, particularly in some people with elevated blood pressure.

Beets also contain folate, potassium, manganese, vitamin C, fiber, and various plant compounds.

Their deep red-purple color comes largely from pigments called betalains, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in laboratory studies.

You can eat beets roasted, boiled, steamed, grated raw, blended into smoothies, or consumed as juice.

And there is one harmless effect that sometimes surprises first-time beet eaters: after eating a significant amount, urine or stool can temporarily become pink, red, or reddish-purple.

This phenomenon is known as beeturia.

It can look alarming, but in many cases it is simply the result of beet pigments passing through the digestive system.