Kidneys are important organs that are responsible for performing many important functions in your body. Drinking beetroot juice is healthy but there are some beetroot juice side effects on kidney worth knowing if you don’t want to damage your kidneys.
Kidneys perform very vital functions in your body and the food you eat plays an important role in helping them perform their duties properly. I have been treating a patient who has had a history of kidney problems which got worse when he started taking excess beetroot juice. Beets contain high levels of potassium, sodium, and phosphorous, minerals that damaged his kidneys further.
Importance of Kidneys
Kidneys are very important organs in your body. They are responsible for balancing the minerals in your body, filtering your blood, remove waste and excess water, produce hormones, and maintain the chemical balance in your body. If your kidneys aren’t able to perform these functions it may lead to the development of chronic kidney diseases like kidney stones.
Some causes of kidney disease
Some of the causes of kidney disease are high blood pressure that can lead to strokes and heart attacks. If the flow of blood and oxygen to your major organs is interrupted by a blockage in your artery walls it can put a lot of strain on your heart. This can cause you to get a stroke or heart attack.
However, the most common is kidney stones which is a very painful experiencing when passing them. It’s an inherited disorder that causes your body to absorb a lot of calcium from the food you eat or through an infection in your urinary tract. Depending on how big or small the stones are, they can be managed using medication or to have a change in your diet. There are many other causes of kidney stones.Click here for more information on beetroot side effects.
Beetroot juice side effects on kidney
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Causes of kidney stones from Beet Juice
Beetroot contains high levels of oxalate. Consuming excess beetroot is one of the major beetroot side effects on kidney. This may increase the chances of the formation of kidney stones especially if you have problems with your kidney. When you eat oxalate it combines with calcium and when the concentration becomes too high, your kidneys aren’t able to dispose of it fast enough so it crystallizes to form kidney stones. If you eat foods rich in oxalate like beetroot, you’re at high risk of having kidney stones. Beets, beet leaves, and beet juices contain 610mg of oxalate per 100g per cup serving while boiled beets contain 675mg of oxalate.
If you like taking beetroot juice it might not be such a good idea since you use more beets and other fruits and veggies to make just a glass of juice. This increases the amount of oxalate you take per day putting your health at risk.
You can limit this amount by drinking other juices that don’t include beetroot. You can make green juices or smoothies or try boiling your beetroot. Boiling is said to dilute the oxalate concentration in the beetroot by a significant amount.
Beetroot also contains potassium, phosphorous, and sodium that are a problem if you have chronic kidney disease. Excess intake of these minerals can prevent your kidneys from being able to remove the excess from your body. This will cause high levels of these minerals to be present in your blood damaging your kidneys even further. Your kidneys won’t have the ability to properly filter out protein waste products that can accumulate in your vital organs.
Treating kidney diseases
Kidney stones and other kidney diseases can be treated successfully with medication and managing your diet. Limiting your consumption of foods like beetroot that contain high amounts of oxalate will go a long way in preventing kidney stones. You can carefully control blood pressure levels and diabetes with diet and specific treatments. However, in cases where the disease is chronic or one that might lead to a dangerous outcome, dialysis or kidney transplant is the best options.
So, drinking excess beetroot juice can damage your kidneys.
Beetroot has nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that have many health benefits. However, beetroot contains high levels of oxalates that cause the formation of kidney stones in your body. These are painful to pass out but can be treated successfully with the right medication and change in diet. Limiting your beetroot juice intake will help in reducing the formation of kidney stones especially for those susceptible to them.
How can a healthy diet and beet juice help your kidneys?
Beet juice contains nitrous oxide that helps expand your blood vessels which reduces your blood pressure. Also eating healthy and sensibly by avoiding a high protein diet.
What are the signs that something is wrong with your kidneys?
If you’re feeling weak, tired, having trouble sleeping or concentrating, and fatigue these could be signs something is wrong with your kidneys. You will also notice blood stains in your urine.
Is beet juice hard on kidneys?
Beet juice has high levels of oxalates that increases chances of kidney stone formation. This is especially true if you’re susceptible to kidney stones.
Is it safe to drink beetroot juice every day?
Drinking 2 glasses daily can help lower your blood pressure in people with hypertension.
Is beet good for kidney patients?
According to studies, beets help reduce the risks of kidney failure in patients who are having a heart x-ray. By increasing nitric oxide in your body, beets expand blocked or narrow arteries in your heart.
