The Truth About Beet Juice (2024)

Most lists of "super foods" don't include beet juice, or beetroot juice as it's called in some countries, but maybe they should.

Beet juice may boost stamina to help you exercise longer, improve blood flow, and help lower blood pressure, some research shows.

Why? Beets are rich in natural chemicals called nitrates. Through a chain reaction, your body changes nitrates into nitric oxide, which helps with blood flow and blood pressure.

Beet Juice Benefits

In some studies, drinking about 2 cups of beet juice daily or taking nitrate capsules lowered blood pressure in healthy adults.

Beet juice may also help your stamina when you exercise. In one study, people who drank beet juice for 6 days had better stamina during intense exercise.

Beet Juice Nutrition

One cup of raw beets has 58 calories and 13 grams of carbohydrates. A cup of beet juice is usually around 100 calories and 25 grams of carbohydrates, because of the way it is processed.

Beets are good sources of folate, potassium, vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, as well as nitrates.

Other good food sources of nitrates include spinach, radishes, lettuce, celery, and Chinese cabbage.

Eating cooked beets won’t give you the same quantity of nitrates, because cooking hampers some of the nitrates, but it certainly is good for your health, says Marjorie Nolan, RD.

If you start drinking beet juice, you should know that it may make your urine and stools look reddish. That's normal.

The Truth About Beet Juice (2024)

FAQs

What happens if we drink beetroot juice daily? ›

Beet juice may boost stamina to help you exercise longer, improve blood flow, and help lower blood pressure, some research shows. Why? Beets are rich in natural chemicals called nitrates. Through a chain reaction, your body changes nitrates into nitric oxide, which helps with blood flow and blood pressure.

Does beet juice really work? ›

Drinking beet juice may increase plasma nitrate levels and boost physical performance. A 2017 review of research determined that long-term consumption of beetroot juice (over 5-6 days) may have the following benefits: increasing performance in time trials. increasing the amount of time to reach exhaustion.

Do beets really help blood pressure? ›

Beets and beet juice are high in nitrates, substances that turn into nitric oxide inside your body. Your body naturally produces nitric oxide, which is crucial for blood vessel health. Nitric oxide relaxes and widens your arteries, allowing more blood to flow through and significantly lowering blood pressure.

What organ is beet juice good for? ›

However, the antioxidant betaine found in beets may help prevent or lower the deposit of fat in the liver. Betaine may also help to protect your liver from toxic substances.

Who should not drink beet juice? ›

Anyone who has low blood pressure or is currently taking blood pressure medication should speak with a healthcare professional before adding beets or beetroot juice to their diet. Beets contain high levels of oxalates, which can cause kidney stones in people with a high risk of this condition.

Why do I feel dizzy after drinking beet juice? ›

A doctor can advise on whether drinking beet juice alongside taking medications to lower blood pressure may lower a person's blood pressure too much. If this occurs, the individual may experience symptoms such as : dizziness or lightheadedness. blurry vision.

Does beet juice clean arteries? ›

Eating foods like beets that are rich in dietary nitrates may help improve blood vessel function and decrease inflammation, which may help prevent atherosclerosis ( 21 ). Research has also found an association between dietary nitrate intake and a reduced risk of atherosclerosis-related death ( 22 , 23 ).

Is it better to eat beets or drink beet juice? ›

Both eating beets and drinking beet juice will give you anti-inflammatory betalains and other phytonutrients. If you're looking to enhance athletic performance, drink up. Juicing beets delivers a concentrated dose of nitrates, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. However, you lose the fiber when you juice the beets.

Does beet juice clean the kidneys? ›

There's some research to suggest that drinks like cranberry juice, carrot juice, and beet juice may also play a role in kidney health. Most of the research on the best drinks for a kidney cleanse is mixed. So, it's best to drink any of these in moderation.

How long does it take for beets to start lowering blood pressure? ›

Studies have shown that beets can significantly lower blood pressure after only a few hours of consumption. Both raw beet juice and cooked beets were found to be effective at lowering blood pressure and decreasing inflammation.

Can you drink too much beet juice? ›

While there are no official guidelines on recommended daily intake, a cup of beet juice a day is typically harmless.

Are beets high in sugar? ›

Moreover, beets are low in calories with zero cholesterol and a small amount of fat. However, the root is high in sugar and carbohydrates, so while you can consume the greens on top of the root in unlimited quantities, you should only have the root a few times a week. Beets are best from early spring to late fall.

What does beet juice do to your bowels? ›

Ultimately, the fiber from beets adds bulk to stool while also softening it, decreasing the chance of constipation. Or, if you tend to have loose and watery stools, the fiber may aid in solidifying stool as it absorbs water and adds bulk. A bulky, soft stool is ideal for whole body detoxification.

Do beets cleanse your liver? ›

Beetroot. Chock-full of antioxidants and nitrates, beetroot has earned its stripes as a potent weapon for heart health, blood pressure, cognition, and inflammation. But when it comes to liver health, this resplendently red root also serves as a natural blood cleanser, purging your body of toxins and heavy metals.

Does drinking beet juice help with erectile dysfunction? ›

Nitric oxide may play a role in erection health. This theory is behind the claims that beet juice is an effective ED treatment in the absence of scientific studies proving the link. There's currently no concrete evidence proving beet juice can help with erectile dysfunction.

How much beetroot juice should I drink per day? ›

Beet is linked to the improvement of a variety of conditions, especially for anemia. While there are no official guidelines on recommended daily intake, a cup of beet juice a day is typically harmless. According to a study, daily intake of 8.4 ounces of juice lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

What is the best time to drink beetroot juice? ›

With so many benefits that stretch throughout the day, drinking beetroot juice first thing in the morning is ideal. It's no surprise that highly active people are relying on beet juice each morning to kick start their day.

What are the side effects of beetroot juice cleanse? ›

7 side effects of drinking beetroot juice
  • 01/8Side effects of beetroot juice. Shop Similar Look. ...
  • 02/8​Risk of kidney stones. Shop Similar Look. ...
  • 03/8​Chances of anaphylaxis. Shop Similar Look. ...
  • 04/8​Coloured stool. ...
  • 05/8​Stomach upset. ...
  • 06/8​Not safe during pregnancy. ...
  • 07/8​Harmful for the liver. ...
  • 08/8​May cause calcium deficiency.
Sep 26, 2022

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