7 Best Juices To Treat Constipation

Constipation is a medical condition in which the bowel movement is slow, and passing stools becomes difficult. However, it is not a life-threatening condition and can be treated by making lifestyle changes (1).

Laxatives can help relieve the condition, but the relief is short-term, and there may be a few side effects (2). You can try out some home remedies to treat this problem. In this article, we will discuss homemade juices to treat constipation, their dosage, and benefits.

Why Drink Juices For Constipation

• Juices are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber and have a high water content (3). They can keep you hydrated and provide your body with the required dietary fiber.
• Soluble fiber helps to retain water in the stool and makes it softer. This helps in better bowel movement. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to the fecal matter, which quickens the bowel movement (3). According to the American Dietetic Association, the fiber intake should be 20-35 g/day for adults and 5 g/day for children (4).
• Sorbitol, a carbohydrate present in fruit juices, helps in facilitating rapid bowel movement, especially among children (3).

7 Homemade Juices To Treat Constipation

1. Apple Juice For Constipation

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Ingredients

• 1 apple, seeds removed
• ½ teaspoon fennel powder
• ½ cup water

How To Prepare

1. Roughly chop the apples and toss them into a blender.
2. Add the water and give it a spin.
3. Pour out the juice into a glass.
4. Add the fennel powder and stir well.

Why This Works

• Apples are rich in fiber, minerals, and vitamins (4). Having an apple as a whole or in the juice form can help prevent constipation (3).
• Fennel seed powder is rich in dietary fiber (5). It helps in retaining water in the stool, facilitating smooth bowel movement and preventing constipation (6).

2. Grape Juice For Constipation

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Ingredients

• Freshly picked black grapes
• ½ inch ginger
• Black salt to taste
• ½ cup water or as per the desired consistency

How To Prepare

1. Destem the fresh grapes and wash them properly.
2. Add grapes, ginger, and water to a juicer.
3. Give it a spin. Pour it in a glass without straining it.
4. Sprinkle black salt as required.

Why This Works

• Grapes contain a lot of water and fiber, which is important to hydrate the body and bulk up the stool (3), (7).
• Grapes contain sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that holds more water and facilitates easy passage of stools. It is a cost-effective natural laxative to treat constipation (8).

3. Orange Juice For Constipation

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Ingredients

• 1 cup roughly chopped oranges
• A pinch of black salt

How To Prepare

1. Toss the oranges into the blender or Nutribullet.
2. Give it a spin.
3. Pour the juice into a glass.
4. Add a pinch of black salt and stir well before drinking.

Why This Works

• Oranges are a rich source of vitamin C, minerals, and dietary fiber (9).
• The dietary fiber helps to retain water and adds bulk to the stool, thereby stimulating bowel movement (3).

4. Pear Juice For Constipation

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Ingredients

• 2 pears, pith removed
• 2 teaspoon lime juice
• A pinch of black salt

How To Prepare

1. Roughly chop the pears and toss them into the blender.
2. Give it a spin and pour the juice into a glass.
3. Add lime juice and a pinch of black salt.
4. Stir well before drinking.

Why This Works

• Pears are also rich in fiber (10).
• They contain almost twice the amount of sorbitol as in prunes. Sorbitol helps in facilitating bowel movement (11).

5. Prune Juice For Constipation

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Ingredients

• 5-6 prunes
• ½ teaspoon honey
• ½ teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 cup warm water

How To Prepare

1. Soak the prunes in a cup of warm water for 5 minutes.
2. As the prunes soften, remove the pith and toss them into a blender along with the water.
3. Add honey and cumin powder.
4. Give it a spin.
5. Pour the juice into a glass and relish the drink.

Why This Works

• Prunes contain dietary fiber and sorbitol, which help to quicken the bowel movement (3), (11).
• Cumin helps to maintain good gut health and also adds to the taste and flavor of the juice (12).

6. Cherry Juice For Constipation

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Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh cherries
• 2 teaspoons lime juice
• ½ cup water
• Black salt to taste

How To Prepare

1. Rinse the cherries well and remove the seeds.
2. Blend the cherries in a blender by adding the desired amount of water.
3. Sprinkle black salt to taste.

Why This Works

Cherries contain polyphenols, water, and fiber (13). The fiber content of cherries helps to add bulk to stool and makes evacuation smooth (3).

7. Lemon Juice For Constipation

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Ingredients

• ½ lemon
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 teaspoon honey
• ½ teaspoon cumin powder

How To Prepare

1. Add lemon juice, honey, and cumin powder to a cup of warm water.
2. Stir well before drinking.

Why This Works

• Lemon is rich in fiber and vitamin C (14). They can not only help to treat constipation but also boost the immune system.
• Cumin powder is extremely helpful in keeping the digestive system healthy (12).

Juice Dosage For Constipation

You can have one cup of juice every day. Try to include the pulp and do not add extra sugar. You can add spices, such as cumin and fennel. These may aid in flushing out toxins from the colon. Drink the juice for constipation first thing in the morning every day.

Though these juices are helpful in treating constipation, do take a look at the possible side effects.

Side Effects

There are no possible side effects of drinking fruit juices, but you should be aware of dosage.

Always use fresh homemade juice as canned or processed juice contains preservatives and added sugar (15). This is not recommended for people with diabetes.

The excess of fructose from fruit juices may lead to cardiovascular diseases, nonalcoholic fatty liver, diabetes, and malabsorption syndrome (16).

If you experience constipation regularly, try to change your diet. Here is what you should eat (17).

What To Eat To Treat Constipation

• Fruits – Plum, pear, watermelon, orange, lime, lemon, and apple.
• Vegetables – Kale, spinach, broccoli, carrot, radish, beetroot, and celery.
• Proteins – Garbanzo beans and black beans.
• Seeds And Nuts – Cumin seeds, fennel seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and soaked almonds.
• Fats And Oils – Olive oil
• Beverages – Water, coconut water, buttermilk, fresh fruit juices, and detox water.

Useful Tip

Consume a lot of fiber-containing foods and keep yourself hydrated. Also, if possible, drink a glass of warm water as soon as you wake up, even before drinking your morning juice.

Here are the signs and symptoms of constipation (17).

Symptoms Of Constipation

• Slower bowel movement
• Abdominal pain
• Hardened stool
• Not feeling the urge to go to the washroom
• Bloating
• Difficulty in passing stool
• Vomiting sensation

Now that you have confirmed whether you have constipation or not, let’s get to the root of the problem. Here is a list of the causes of constipation (17).

What Causes Constipation?

• Not drinking enough water or fluids
• Not eating enough dietary fiber
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Colon cancer
• Leading a sedentary lifestyle
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Stress
• Pregnancy
• Certain medications, such as antidepressants and antacids
• Sudden change in diet or activity level
• Spinal cord injury
• Multiple sclerosis
• Stroke
• Weak pelvic muscles
• Dyssynergia
• Diabetes
• Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism

Many of us tend to ignore our health problems. If you think that constipation is a minor problem, take a look at the next section to know what could happen if you ignore it.

Adverse Outcomes Of Constipation

While occasional episodes of constipation are not a cause for worry, regularly experiencing constipation can pose health risks if you do not address it immediately:

• Anal fissures
• Rectal prolapse
• Swollen veins in the anus
• Fecal impaction
• Bowel stricture
• Colon cancer

Other factors can aggravate the risk of constipation. Here is what you should be aware of

Constipation Risk Factors

The following individuals are at risk of constipation (17):

• People on medications, such as narcotics, blood pressure medicines, antidepressants, and antacids.
• Women
• Elderly adults
• Individuals with eating disorders
• Individuals dealing with depression
• People who do not get enough sleep
• People who do not get enough physical activity
• People who do not drink enough water

Conclusion

It is important to treat constipation as soon as possible to prevent complications. Including juices in your daily morning routine can help relieve constipation. Also, the nutrients in the fruits will also help keep many other health issues at bay. Make sure to consult a dietitian before you try any of these juices.

Expert’s Answers for Readers Questions

When should you go to the hospital for constipation?

If you have bleeding stools or anal fissures or have not had stool elimination for 15 days, you should go to the hospital and consult a specialist.

How long is too long to be constipated?

If you are finding it difficult to pass stool for more than 7-8 days, it should be considered chronic constipation.

Does carrot juice make you poop?

Carrot is loaded with fiber, which is important to add bulk to stool and help in proper evacuation.

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