Everything taken in excess can be dangerous. Before starting your beetroot journey you should know the beetroot juice benefits side effects to prepare you for anything.
My name is Doris and am a single mother to a beautiful baby girl. Raising a child on my own isn’t as easy as it looks. I don’t have time to get sick or take time out for myself to relax. I have to be in good shape physically and mentally. For this to happen I need foods that are healthy and give me energy throughout the day. So I did some research and found that beets have all these benefits. I have decided to carry out a one week experiment with beetroot juice to see if it’s something that will help me.
These are some of the side effects you should look out for:
Click here to learn more about the side effects of beetroot juices.
Beetroot juice benefits side effects
Beeturia
This is a side effect that is mostly harmless but it could also mean your body has problems metabolizing iron. If you drink a lot of beetroot juice, your urine and stool may have a peculiar pink or red colour.
Rashes, fever, chills
Although this is rare to get beetroot juice benefits side effects, you may experience an allergic reaction to consuming beetroot. If in the process of your experiment you get rashes, fever, chills,it’s best if you stop drinking beetroot juice and consult your doctor. The low fever or chills could be as a result of cleansing and detoxification but it’s always good to be on the safe side. Consult your doctor before proceeding with your experiment.
Kidney stones
If you had or have kidney stones, you may have to stay away from drinking beetroot juice. Beetroot has high oxalate levels that can contribute to the formation of kidney stones in your body. Beets increase the concentration levels of your urinary oxalate which can lead to kidney stones.
Lowers blood pressure levels
The nitrates in beets will lower your blood pressure if you’re a healthy person. Lowering of your blood pressure is a good thing if you’re suffering from high blood pressure. But if your blood pressure is already low or isn’t stable, beetroot can cause your blood pressure levels to go down to dangerous levels.
Vocal cord problems
This can be a scary side effect but it has a simple remedy. If you’ve been taking a lot of beetroot juice, you might feel some tightness in your throat or even have some trouble speaking. To avoid this problem, mix your beetroot juice with apple juice or other vegetable juices.
Stomach upset
If you have stomach issues, taking beetroot juice can aggravate the problem. Some of the side effects of taking beets are bloating, cramping, gas, constipation, diarrhea, and flatulence. If you’re allergic to beets you can develop stomach cramps. The fiber content of beets may cause you to develop gas pains but you can get relief if you pass the gas or bowel movements. There are times this might not work and you need to see your doctor.
Increase in blood sugar
This is a serious side effect if you have a history of blood sugar problems. Before you experiment with beets, check with your doctor if you’re blood sugar levels are okay. Beets have a high glycemic index which can destabilize your blood sugar levels.
Can cause liver problems
The good thing about beets is that they’re rich in iron, copper, phosphorous, and magnesium. You don’t have to go looking for different foods for all these nutrients. The bad part is that excessive consumption of these nutrients will accumulate in your liver and cause serious damage to your liver and pancreas.
Beetroot side effects are rare however…
Although taking beetroot juice is very beneficial to your health, there are some serious concerns if you take it in excess. Its rich concentration of nitrates can affect your body and your health. Apart from the not so serious side effects like having pink or red coloured urine and stool, there are more serious side effects. Your liver and pancreas could get damaged from high intake of iron, magnesium, phosphorous, and copper metals in beets or you could get kidney stones or get an allergic reaction to taking excess beet juice. Everything should be taken in moderation even beetroot juice so that your body can benefit.
FAQ
How long does it take to get beetroot juice out of your system?
If you notice red or pink colour in your urine or poop, don’t be worried it’s because of the beet. Normally after 24 hours you won’t notice it but if you do your digestive system is taking long to remove waste.
Does beetroot juice give you gas?
Low stomach acid can cause gas, bloating, or constipation. Gas can be caused by the fiber content in beets or having low stomach acids which makes it difficult for your body to digest and absorb nutrients.
Is it safe to drink beetroot juice daily?
Beetroot juice is safe to drink any time. Unless you are allergic or are taking blood pressure or other medication that interacts with the juice.
Can taking beetroot juice harm your liver?
Beetroot juice contains antioxidants that protect your liver from oxidative stress and inflammation. However, if taken in excess it can cause accumulation of iron, copper, magnesium, and phosphorous that can harm your pancreas and liver.
Why do you get red urine after taking beetroot juice?
This is something that sometimes happens after drinking beetroot juice but it’s harmless. It could also mean you have problems with your iron metabolism.