Using Beets To Test Digestive Health

By Alex ‘Earthie Mama’ Du Toit | Guest Writer

Have you ever gone to the bathroom after a eating or drinking beets and the toilet looks a slight pink colour? There are so many times I forgot I ate beets and I was a little horrified by the inside of the toilet bowl. Well now I use Beets to test the state of what is going on inside me. Beets are a great tool to see if you have low stomach acid and to see how fast your digestive system is eliminating foods.

The pink or red colour caused by beets is from betalain pigments being broken down and excreted, called beeturia. The flora of the gut and stomach acid have the role of breaking down the pigments in food. When you are low in stomach acid, your body is unable to metabolize beet roots properly.

Your stomach acid needs a PH of 2 to breakdown proteins while making vitamin B-12 available. If you don’t make enough stomach acid then you can’t digest proteins as well causing havoc in your system as protein fragments go into your small intestine as protein fragments instead of amino acids. This can be a cause of leaky gut. Another issue with low stomach acid is that you don’t absorb enough vitamin B12. This makes you more lethargic and tired. Being able to digest and absorb the vitamins and minerals in your food is very important for your health.

Symptoms of Low Stomach Acid

• Skin Issues
• Fatigued
• Suffer from heart burn, indigestion or gas
• Gain weight easily
• Asthma
• Allergies

The Beet Test: Eat a large serving of beets, remembering the date and time that you ingested them. When you see pink in your urine or red in your stool count look at how long it has been since you ate the beets. 

If your urine is pink then your stomach acid is too weak. If it is clear you have sufficient stomach acid. Now that you know if your pH is too low by the pink tones in your urine, what do you do?

• Before a meal, drink 2 glasses of water 15 minutes before, one with a Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar.
• Add probiotics to your diet
• Add a T of coconut oil daily to kill bad bacteria and candida in your gut

You can also check to see how fast your digestive system is working. It should take 12-24 hours for your digestive system to break down food, send nutrients were they need to go and then eliminate the rest. If you are taking more than 24 hours after eating beets for them to digest then waste is sitting too long in your gut.

If this is happening then:

• Drink more water
• Identify and eliminate common food sensitivities.
• Exercise more
• Increase fermented foods or add a probiotic
• Eat fibre rich foods like apples, asparagus, avocados, broccoli, cabbage, sweet potatoes, kale and watermelon
• Relaxation techniques to reduce stress

Besides being great for testing your digestive system, beets are so good for you. Beets are full of antioxidants and nutrients. They help your digestive system, libido, blood pressure and they have anti-cancer properties. So eat more beets and you won’t need a Beet Test?

Have you tried the Beet Test? Comment below..

Cheers to your health! Alex

Originally published at Earthiemama and reproduced here with permission.

If you want to buy Beetroots, it’s widely available here.

About the Author

Alexandra is a true Earthie Mama, helping others tune into their most natural, thriving state while bringing harmony and balance into all areas of their lives. She hosts a well-known blog, EarthieMama.com, where she writes about health and wellness, conscious parenting, green living, self-sustainability and getting off the grid. Alex also has an MA in Psychology, and is a registered Yoga Instructor, environmentalist, conscious mother, green living advocate and natural birthing expert. She also sells all natural products and her e-books through her website.

Please check out her website at EarthieMama.com, connect with Earthie Mama on Facebook, or sign up to the free EarthieMama e-newsletter!