Beetroot explained: what it is and side effects
Beetroot comes as juice, juice concentrate and powder. The NIH says the body converts some nitrate from beet juice into nitric oxide, which expands blood vessels, increasing blood flow and delivering more oxygen and nutrients to exercising muscles. One product we reviewed lists beetroot, but no label prints its individual amount.
- What it is
- Plant
- Amounts the NIH names
- Most studies used 500 ml of beetroot juice, about 2 cups, taken once about 2.5 to 3 hours before exercise or daily for up to 15 days.
- In the products we reviewed
- 1, its label does not print the amount
What beetroot is
- Beetroot comes as juice, juice concentrate, and powder, and nitrate amounts can vary widely between products.1
- The body converts some nitrate from beet juice into nitric oxide, which expands blood vessels.2
- This blood vessel expansion increases blood flow and delivers more oxygen and nutrients to exercising muscles.2
- Some dietary supplements contain varying amounts of beetroot powder, but whether they can substitute for beetroot juice or concentrate has not been studied.1
How much beetroot each product gives
Amount not printed: the dashed line shows the most it can be, the whole blend
Before you take it
Side effects
- Beetroot can turn urine pink or red because its red pigments are passed into urine, but this is not a safety concern.1
Ask a doctor first
- No safety concerns have been identified with about 2 cups of beetroot juice daily for several weeks.1
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. A supplement is not a medicine.
The product we reviewed that lists beetroot
| Product | Form and serving | Beetroot per serving | Our score | Price a bottle | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 LipoSlend#8 in weight loss support | Liquid drops1 ml | Not printedIn a 500 mg proprietary blend | 8.8 | $49 | Check price |
Questions people ask
What is a beet root supplement?
Some beetroot supplements contain beetroot powder in varying amounts. The NIH says beetroot also comes as juice and juice concentrate, and nitrate amounts can vary widely between products.
How much beetroot supplement should I take per day?
The NIH facts here describe beetroot juice study doses, not a daily supplement requirement. Most studies used 500 ml of juice, about two cups, taken once before exercise or daily for up to 15 days.
When should I take a beetroot supplement?
About 2.5 to 3 hours before exercise was the timing used for a single beetroot juice dose in most studies. Whether beetroot powder supplements can substitute for juice or concentrate has not been studied.
What are the side effects of beetroot?
Beetroot can turn urine pink or red because its red pigments pass into urine. This color change is not a safety concern.
Are beetroot supplements safe?
For beetroot juice, no safety concerns have been identified with about two cups daily for several weeks. That finding concerns juice, and whether beetroot powder supplements can substitute for juice or concentrate has not been studied.
Which supplements we reviewed contain beetroot?
LipoSlend is one product we reviewed that lists beetroot. It comes as liquid drops, with a 1 ml serving. Its beetroot amount is not printed separately because it is inside a 500 mg proprietary blend.
Sources
The products, amounts and prices come from each product's label and checkout, as its review shows them. AI drafts our pages from listed sources, figures are checked against them, and we have not tried the products.
- 1NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, ExerciseAndAthleticPerformance HealthProfessionalods.od.nih.gov/factsheetschecked
- 2NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, ExerciseAndAthleticPerformance Consumerods.od.nih.gov/factsheetschecked