Besides being a brilliant reddish-purple color, beets have some other surprising benefits. Get answers to all of your burning beet questions, including the questions you didn’t even think to ask.
Are beets good for you
There’s no such thing as “good” and “bad” foods (yes, I’m for real). Let’s talk a bit about beet nutrition though! For starters, beets are a good source of fiber (for more info on fiber, check out this blog post). They contain a variety of minerals and are a good source of manganese, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. On the vitamin front, beets are a good source of vitamin C and folate. Beets also contain nitrates, antioxidants, phytochemicals, and pigments that have been shown to lower blood pressure. They have a pretty impressive nutritional profile overall!
Are beets keto
As I’ve covered in previous Dietitian Answers posts, there isn’t really a “yes” or “no” distinction for most things when it comes to whether or not they’re keto. Technically, everything can be keto in small enough amounts. Beets have a decent amount of carbohydrates, however, meaning they couldn’t constitute a very large part of a keto diet.
Are beets high in iron
Not really…beets do contain some iron, however, not enough for me to consider them “high” in this mineral. Plant-based sources of iron also tend to have lower bioavailability as well. This means that while a plant source may have a lot of iron, that the amount our body can absorb is much lower.
Are beets good for dogs
I’m not a veterinarian, so I tend to stick to human-based nutrition recommendations. That being said, I don’t think beets are toxic for dogs. Whether or not they’re actually good for them though, I couldn’t say.
Are beets a vegetable
Yes, beets are considered a vegetable.
Are beets keto friendly
I think we covered this when we talked about if beets are keto. Could you have some? Sure, but the keto diet doesn’t leave a lot of room for beets.
Are beets low carb
Nope. Beets, like all vegetables, contain a decent amount of carbohydrates.
Are beets good for diabetics
Now here’s an interesting question! Like I mentioned when we talked about beet nutrition, they contain nitrates and other phytonutrients that lower blood pressure. This can be very helpful for someone with diabetes, as those with diabetes are at an increased risk for high blood pressure. Lower blood pressure can help keep the heart healthy, and help reduce the risk for other diabetes-related complications. There’s also some (though not a ton) evidence to suggest that the phytonutrients in beets may help with blood sugar regulation. In short, if you have diabetes and like beets they may be a good option for you to help manage your health!
Are beets bad for you
In moderate amounts, absolutely not. Eating beets regularly can cause pink/red colored stool and urine, however, which isn’t dangerous but can be a bit startling. Like most things though, too much is generally not a good idea. So, have your beets, but make sure you’re incorporating more variety into your diet beyond just beets. ;)
Are beets high in carbs
Not by my standards. Beets contain about 13 grams of carbohydates per 1 cup serving.
Do beets have iron
Yes, but not enough for me to write home about. :P
Do beets have carbs
Also yes. All vegetables have carbohydrates, and beets are no exception.
Do beets cause gas
Technically gas can be caused by essentially anything. Beets are not one of the most likely culprits, however.
Do beets make your pee red
They can! Interestingly enough, if you consume enough beets the color pigments in them can turn your pee and stools a reddish-pink color.
Do beets make you poop
Yes and no. So, just eating a beet certainly isn’t going to make you instantly have to poop. They are a good source of fiber and water, however, which both help with regular bowel movements. They won’t have a laxative effect on you, but they can help keep you regular. ;)
Do beets lower blood pressure
They can! The nitrates and phytonutrients in beets have been shown to help reduce blood pressure. For optimal blood pressure control make sure to incorporate other blood pressure lowering techniques as well. Stress reduction, eating plenty of fiber, drinking water, staying active, reducing sodium intake, and so many other things can help lower blood pressure. I wouldn’t recommend exclusively relying on beets for your blood pressure control, but they can certainly be one aspect of it!
Do beets have fiber
Yes they do! Beets are a good source of fiber with 3.8 grams per cup.
Do beets have sugar
Yep! Beets have 9 grams of naturally occurring sugar per cup. Fun fact, some of the table sugar we consume actually comes from sugar beets!
Do beets have potassium
Yes, beets have just under 10% of our daily needs for potassium per cup.
Do beets make you gassy
We’ve addressed this. Is it possible? Yes. Is it likely? No.
Can beets be eaten raw
Yes they can! So if you’d like to be Dwight Schrute and eat some raw beets, go ahead. ;)
Can beets be frozen
Yep! You can freeze beets to extend their shelf-life.
Can beets lower blood pressure
I think we’ve covered this pretty well, but yes, they can.
Can beets turn urine red
Absolutely they can! They can also turn stool red.
Can beets cause diarrhea
If you eat a bunch of them, maybe? Eating the occasional beet shouldn’t cause diarrhea though.
Can beets be transplanted
I’m not a gardening expert, but I think so!
Can beets color your urine
Yes, and that color will be a reddish-pink color. Beets are very pigmented, and sometimes this pigment travels through the body resulting in colored urine and stool.
Can beets lower cholesterol
Yes and no. Just eating them isn’t likely to do much for your cholesterol levels. They are a vegetable, however, with some great fiber. Eating plenty of vegetables and fiber has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels. So in that way, yes, they may be helpful in lower cholesterol levels (though other vegetables would be too).
Can beets cause gas
Man, people have a lot of questions about gas… They could, but they aren’t likely to be your main cause of gas.
Can beets cause kidney stones
They do contain dietary oxalate, which can contribute to kidney stone formation. Now, eating a moderate amount isn’t likely to just cause a kidney stone in someone who isn’t already at risk. However, if you do have a history of kidney stones, it might be wise not to go overboard on your beet consumption.
And there you go, all your burning questions about beets answered. Which food would you like me to do a google deep-dive on next?