Doctors Reveal What Eating Beets May Do to Your Body đź«ś
Beets are more than just a colorful vegetable. They contain dietary nitrates, fiber, potassium, folate, and antioxidant plant compounds, and research suggests they may have several health effects.
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Northwestern Medicine
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May lower blood pressure: Your body converts beet nitrates into nitric oxide, which helps relax and widen blood vessels. Clinical trials generally show a modest reduction in blood pressure, particularly with beetroot juice.
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PubMed Central (PMC)
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May support exercise performance: Beetroot nitrate can improve oxygen efficiency and endurance during some types of exercise.
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ODs
Supports digestion: Whole beets provide dietary fiber, which helps keep the digestive system moving and supports a healthy diet.
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Cleveland Clinic
Provides antioxidants: Their red-purple pigments, called betalains, have antioxidant and potentially anti-inflammatory properties.
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Cleveland Clinic
Your urine or stool may turn pink or red: This is called beeturia and is generally harmless.
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Northwestern Medicine
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Who should be cautious?
People with a history of certain kidney stones may need to moderate high-oxalate foods such as beets. And if you take blood-pressure medication or already have low blood pressure, consuming large amounts of concentrated beetroot juice could potentially lower blood pressure further.
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Northwestern Medicine
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Bottom line: Beets can be a nutritious addition to your diet, but they’re not a replacement for prescribed blood-pressure or other medical treatment.
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nccih.nih.gov
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