Why Drink Juices For Constipation
Juices are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, and have a high water content. Therefore, juices will help to keep you hydrated and will provide your body with the required dietary fiber. Soluble fiber helps to retain water in the stool and makes the stool softer. This helps in better bowel movement. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to the fecal matter, which quickens the bowel movement. Juices will also provide the body with vitamins and minerals, thereby boosting your overall health. Sorbitol, a carbohydrate present in juices, help in facilitating rapid bowel movement.
But this does not mean that you only have to drink juice or drinking excessive juice will cure your problem. There is a measured dose for every treatment. Here is how much juice you should consume per day.
Juice Dosage For Constipation
You can have one cup of juice every day. Try to include the pulp and do not add any 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.
5 Homemade Juices To Treat Constipation
1. Prune Juice For Constipation
Ingredients
- 5-6 prunes
- ½ teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 cup of warm water
Recipe
Soak the prunes in a cup of warm water for 5 minutes. As the prunes soften up, remove the pith and toss the prunes into a blender along with the water. Add honey and cumin powder. Give it a spin. Pour the juice into a glass and relish the drink.
How This Works
Prunes contain dietary fiber and sorbitol, which help to quicken the bowel movement. Honey is a natural antibacterial agent and has antioxidant properties that help to remove toxins from the body. Cumin helps to maintain good gut health and also adds to the taste and flavor of the juice.
2. Pear Juice For Constipation
Ingredients
- 2 pears, pith removed
- 2 teaspoon lime juice
- Pinch of black salt
Recipe
Roughly chop the pears and toss them into the blender. Give it a spin and pour the juice into a glass. Add lime juice and a pinch of black salt. Stir well before drinking.
How This Works
Pears are also rich in fiber and have almost twice the amount of sorbitol when compared to prunes. Since sorbitol helps in facilitating bowel movement, drinking pear juice will help you treat constipation. Lime juice is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber that help to boost the immune system and keep you healthy.
3. Apple Juice For Constipation
Ingredients
- 1 apple, seeds removed
- ½ teaspoon fennel powder
- ½ cup of water
Recipe
Roughly chop the apples and toss them into a blender. Add the water and give it a spin. Pour out the juice into a glass. Add the fennel powder and stir well.
How This Works
Apples are rich in fiber, minerals, and vitamins. They also have a mild laxative effect. Fennel seed powder is rich in dietary fiber and therefore helps in retaining water in the stool and facilitating smooth bowel movement.
4. Orange Juice For Constipation
Ingredients
- 1 cup roughly chopped oranges
- Pinch of black salt
Recipe
Toss the oranges into the blender or Nutribullet. Give it a spin. Pour the juice out into a glass. Add a pinch of black salt and stir well before drinking.
How This Works
Oranges are a rich source of vitamin C, minerals, and dietary fiber. The dietary fiber helps to retain water and adds bulk to the stool, thereby stimulating the bowel movement.
5. Lemon Juice For Constipation
Ingredients
- ½ lemon
- 1 cup of warm water
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
Recipe
Add lemon juice, honey, and cumin powder to a cup of warm water. Stir well before drinking.
How This Works
Lemon is rich in fiber and vitamin C, which not only helps to treat constipation but also boosts the immune system. Cumin powder is extremely helpful in keeping the digestive system healthy. Honey is loaded with antioxidants that help to flush out the toxins.
Side Effects of Juices
- Fruit juices contain fruit sugar and may increase your blood sugar levels.
- The rise in blood sugar can have an adverse effect on those having diabetes.
- If you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, your condition may get aggravated.
- If you are regularly suffering from this issue, try to change your diet. Here is what you should eat.
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 seed, fennel seed, pumpkin seed, flax seed, and soaked almonds
- Fats and Oils – Olive oil
- Beverages – Water, coconut water, buttermilk, fresh fruit juices, and detox water
Tip
Eat 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.
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
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
- A sudden change in diet or activity level
- Spinal cord injury
- Multiple sclerosis
- Stroke
- Weak pelvic muscles
- Dyssynergia
- Diabetes
- Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
Adverse Outcomes Of Constipation
Occasionally suffering from constipation is not as dangerous as regularly suffering from constipation. Here is a list of complications that may arise if you do not start taking care of the issue immediately.
- Anal fissures
- Rectal prolapse
- Swollen veins in the anus
- Fecal impaction
- Bowel stricture
- Colon cancer
Constipation Risk Factors
- Taking medications such as narcotics, blood pressure medicines, antidepressants, and antacids.
- Being a woman
- Being an elderly adult
- Suffering from eating disorders
- Suffering from depression
- Not getting enough sleep
- Not getting enough physical activity
- Not drinking enough water
Bottomline
Considering there are so many complications, it is best to treat this condition as soon as possible. By including juices in your daily morning routine you will put an end to your constipation problems and the nutrients in the fruits will also help you treat many other health ailments. You will end up with not only better gut health but also brighter skin and shiny hair! So, stop ignoring this issue, flush it right out of your life. Live free!
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