Why Does Babys Stool Turn Red After Eating Dragon Fruit?

It is normal for babies to have red stool after eating dragon fruit. Red dragon fruit contains natural pigments, which can cause red urine and stool, but it is harmless to the human body. Especially for children, their digestive system is not fully developed, so their stool may appear more red. Therefore, parents should not worry if they find that their child's urine and stool are red after eating red dragon fruit.

However, it is important to remain vigilant about changes in stool color. "Although eating dragon fruit can cause changes in stool color, it does not mean that other pathological reasons for stool color changes do not exist." If the child has only eaten dragon fruit once, but their stool remains red throughout the day or for several consecutive days, it is advisable to be cautious about the possibility of hematochezia, and it is recommended to promptly go to the hospital for a urine test.

The reason for the red stool after eating dragon fruit is due to the presence of betalains (natural pigments) in red dragon fruit. After consumption, the urine and stool may appear faintly pinkish, which is a normal phenomenon. The chromophore groups in red dragon fruit are relatively stable and not easily degraded by the human body, so they are excreted with feces or urine, resulting in red excretions.

According to experiments, betalains, a type of phytochemical pigment, have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor cell growth effects. They have strong coloring ability, are non-toxic and safe, and are widely used in the processing of beverages, ice cream, candies, and other products. They can improve liver function and promote digestion and absorption, making them one of the ideal natural red pigments to replace synthetic red pigments.