From borscht soup to grilled vegetable kebabs to vegan cupcakes, beets are increasingly appearing on the menus of fine restaurants and in recipes on foodie websites. There are several varieties of beets, ranging in hues from white to yellow to red.

Bloody stool in a child can occur for a variety of reasons. Small anal tears and infections are leading causes, among others.

Iron is an essential mineral that is important in the production of red blood cells. Lack of iron in the diet leads to iron deficiency anemia.

The color of your stool helps you determine the cause of your problem. When your stools are maroon or bright red, it usually means you have a lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract problem, which includes the large bowel and rectum.

Blood appears in the stool for various reasons, including infection, cancer, digestive disorders and open wounds, such as hemorrhoids and ulcers. Blood may be visible to the human eye in some cases, suggesting the blood is from the lower digestive tract.

The consistency of a child's stool is related to how much water it contains. Loose stools occur when the water content in the stool is increased. A child's diet and a variety of illnesses -- including infections, inflammatory conditions and digestive disorders -- can lead to loose stools.

From borscht soup to grilled vegetable kebabs to vegan cupcakes, beets are increasingly appearing on the menus of fine restaurants and in recipes on foodie websites. There are several varieties of beets, ranging in hues from white to yellow to red.

Finding blood in your stool can be startling and even frightening. Blood can show up in your stool if you have any bleeding in the esophagus, stomach or intestines, and although this symptom may not reflect a serious condition, blood in the stool always needs to be evaluated by your doctor.

The digestive system is made up of a series of tissues that mechanically and chemically digest food and absorb nutrients into the body to sustain life. The length of the digestive system is lined with membranes that contain specialized digestive cells, connective tissue and a rich supply of blood vessels.

Blood and mucus in a child's stool can be alarming to parents. There are several causes of rectal bleeding, and doctors can determine the cause based on taking a careful history and an examination and through imaging and laboratory testing.

One of the more common causes of blood in the stool is the development of anal fissures. Anal fissures are very small tears (usually less than 1 1/2 inch) that occur in the skin of the anus (which is where the bowel movements leave the body).