“Beets are special,” says registered dietitian Camille Skoda, RD. “They’re one of very few fruits or vegetables that have that deep red-purple color, which provides a different set of nutrients and antioxidants than you’ll get from produce of other colors.”
Betalains: Pigments that pack a punch
What makes beets such gems? They get their jewel-like hue from betalains, a type of natural plant pigment that provides a health boost. Betalains contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties: Those good-for-you pigments do have one small downside, however: “They can turn your urine bright red,” Skoda warns. “It can be kind of scary if you forget you’ve eaten beets. But it’s totally harmless.”
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