A Gastroenterologist Answers Questions About Beeturia
If what you see in the toilet after eating beets alarms you, here are some responses from Mervyn D. Danilewitz, MD, FACG, AGAF, a gastroenterologist with Penn Medicine, PA.
Just how much beet juice can end up in the toilet after drinking a glass?
Dr. Danilewitz says that the whole glass can end up in the toilet, in the sense that “The beetroot pigment called betanin is responsible for the red coloring in urine and feces,” he explains.
“Some people cannot break the pigment down and this results in excretion of the pigment in urine and feces.
“The rest of the beetroot is digested and no nutrients should be lost. The beetroot red pigment is indigestible.”
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Can beets make stools appear black?
“The more beets that are eaten, the darker the red coloring will be in urine and feces,” says Dr. Danilewitz.
“This coloring may look black, but beetroot should not cause black stools.”
Viewing your “black” poops under magnification will reveal the very dark purple in the event of having eaten a large volume of this ultra-healthful vegetable.
How long can beeturia last?
“Beeturia (urine) usually lasts for 48 hours, but this varies in people who have slow or a faster rate of passing feces.
“It also depends on the amount of fluids one drinks. It has nothing to do with malabsorption or iron absorption.”
More than once, my own beeturia has lasted four to five days, appearing with my stools.
Now, if these situations worry you, then you should keep track of when you eat beets or beet juice and how much, even if it’s just small amounts in a salad.
This highly pigmented vegetable is extremely nutrient dense and much under-rated for its antioxidant properties.
Dr. Danilewitz is board certified in both gastroenterology and internal medicine, and has been in practice for over 30 years.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
