If you want a natural remedy for constipation there are some juices that have a gentle laxative effect.
Constipation can be a persistent problem for many people that causes a lot of pain and suffering. And while I believe in a preventative approach, sometimes things get backed up unexpectedly.
Lucky for us, natural juices can get your – um… juices flowing. Whether it’s the holidays and you’ve eaten way too much leftover cake and cookies for too many days in a row, or you’re going through a lot of stress, we can use this list when we notice some digestive slow-down.
You can drink these as you get your gut health back on track instead of constantly relying on harsh stimulant laxatives.
Here are some of the best juices to drink for constipation:
Prune Juice
This one is popular for a reason: it works. You can’t have a list of “best juices for constipation” without prune juice.Prunes are actually plums that have been dehydrated or dried. They contain a lot of soluble fiber but juicing them takes most of the fiber content out of the equation.
The reason they are so effective for getting the bowels moving is that they contain sorbitol which has a laxative effect.
They also contain electrolytes magnesium and potassium, which are important for bowel function as well.
I just buy an already made juice from the store but it is possible to make your own. You can try drinking 4-8 ounces of prune juice in the morning to help stimulate a bowel movement.
Celery
This one is my favorite. Not only does drinking a fresh glass of celery juice first thing in the morning help you poop, but it’s also really thirst-quenching and refreshing.
Celery contains a lot of vitamins and minerals including vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6 which all are necessary for digestive health. It also contains magnesium which helps the muscles of the digestive tract relax, making it easier to go.
To make your own celery juice cut and wash one full head of organic celery and throw it in the juicer. If you’re like me and don’t have a juicer but you do have a blender, just blend it up and strain and squeeze the pulp through a nut milk bag.
I love the taste of celery juice but if you have a hard time with it, consider adding in a tiny bit of apple juice or one of the drinks below!
Lemon
A common remedy for constipation is warm lemon water first thing in the morning. Lemon contains vitamin C, higher doses of which is well-known for acting as a laxative. Warm lemon water is great for everyday maintenance of regular digestion. If you want to get even more digestive benefits, add in some ginger root.I also like to make real lemonade with no added sugar. You don’t need it because the secret ingredient is apples!
All it takes is a juicer, a lemon, and 2 or 3 apples depending on your tastes. Don’t peel the lemon! Give it a good wash and just throw it in! This is the most delicious lemonade I’ve ever had.
Pineapple
You’ll have no problem getting this one down. Pineapple juice is super tasty and it has a lot of health benefits.It exceeds the recommended daily value of vitamin C per serving (which we already mentioned is very good news) and it contains bromelain.
Bromelain is an enzyme that helps break down proteins faster, therefore, speeding up slow or stagnant digestion.
This helpful enzyme is mostly found in the core that we all usually skip out on when eating the fruit. By putting the fruit and core into the juicer you will be taking advantage of the benefits that bromelain has to offer.
This is why you should buy a whole pineapple instead of getting the canned or already sliced and packaged form and juice the whole thing!
Drink Water!
Even though you are drinking these juices, you still need to consume water. In fact, celery, and pineapple have a slight diuretic effect because they add water from your body into the intestines helping you to move waste. However, this can be dehydrating and dehydration is one of the highest contributing factors to constipation.
Make sure you are drinking water after your morning juice.
You should be drinking a half-ounce to one ounce for every pound you weigh. So if you weigh 130 pounds divide that by 2 and that gets you the minimum requirement: 65 ounces. That means you should drink between 65 to 130 of water a day depending on where you live (people at higher altitudes need more water) and how much fiber you eat ( the more fiber in your diet, the more water you need).
I hope you enjoy these juices as much as I do! Let me know which ones you want to try and how they turn out!
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