Cranberry juice might not be the first thing you think of for constipation. Actually, this juice is perfect for Thanksgiving and winter holidays. Cranberry juice is so refreshing and can be used in lots of different ways. This juice is a delicious and versatile food product. But is cranberry juice good for constipation?
Doctors often recommend cranberry juice for constipation. It’s a natural remedy that does the job! It’s good for your gut health as it is a fiber-rich fruit. But does cranberry juice make you poop? Let’s dig into the research and find out more about how the juice is good for you.
What Is Constipation?
Constipation refers to infrequent bowel movements or difficulty passing stool. The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) says constipation is when you have one or more of these symptoms and poop less than three times a week.
- Having trouble with hard stools.
- Stools that are tough to push out or are hard, dry, and lumpy
- Feeling like you haven’t taken a good poop
That’s why, going less than three times a week is like the threshold. But, honestly, everyone’s different when it comes to how often they go, so most people just know what’s normal for them. There’s a wide range of how often people poop.
Is cranberry juice good for constipation?
Is cranberry juice good for constipation? There is no clear evidence that cranberry juice helps with constipation more than drinking any other liquid can. Beyond that, there’s some evidence that cranberry juice specifically could be helpful for your proper bowel movement. Cranberry juice tastes sour because of a chemical called salicylate. This chemical can help reduce bacteria like E. coli in your gut that causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome, according the research published in PloS One. It’s been shown that having good microbiota in your stomach can help with digestion and overall health.
Another article presented at the Berry Health Benefits Symposium found that this juice has various antibacterial chemicals like proanthocyanidins, isoprenoids, and xyloglucans, and more. These compounds were amazing for gut health.
Cranberry juice can help with gut health because simply it’s a liquid. Drinking enough fluids is good for your overall bowel movement. It keeps you hydrated and makes it easier to go to the bathroom. Sugar in cranberry juice helps your body absorb more water in the intestines too. This can make your stools looser.
You must blend the fresh Cranberry and skip the sugar, that’s how you drink it properly. As it’s pretty tart, you might add some water to make it taste better. Is cranberry juice good for constipation? Indirectly, yes. You can definitely give cranberry juice constipation reliever a try!
Health Benefits of Cranberry Juice
Cranberries have items that can help your immune system fight off infections and make you healthier. in some factors, it’s also benefited your sexual health. Even though eating whole fruit is best for nutrition, drinking its juice is still good for you. How does cranberry juice help you poop? It’s time to find out.
Beneficial for digestion
Is cranberry juice good for constipation? It does somehow! The gut microbiome is a bunch of bacteria and other tiny organisms that live in your intestines. Cranberry juice has some chemicals that could be pretty good for this bacteria population. Microbiota colonies love salicylic acid, and xylo glucans – as they can stimulate their growth.
Cranberry juice has compounds called phytonutrients that can actually stop the growth of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers. This research study from 2016, published in the Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice, found that cranberry juice is pretty effective at fighting off the disease. Cranberry juice makes you poop better.
Urinary tract infections Prevention
Cranberries have chemical compounds called proanthocyanidins. These compounds might help prevent UTIs by stopping germs from sticking to the urinary tract. Germs can’t cause illness because they can’t reproduce or spread.
The research on cranberry juice is all over the place. Some studies say cranberry juice helps prevent UTIs, but others say it doesn’t do anything.
Keeping Your Heart Healthy
The compounds that are good for your gut are also good for your heart. It’s been shown that the stuff in it can help reduce inflammation. Inflammation can seriously mess up blood vessels, like arteries and stuff. It’s not good for the long run. So, atherosclerosis happens when plaque builds up in injured arteries. Cranberries have stuff that might help fight inflammation, which could be good for your heart.
A study from 2019 found that overweight or obese people who drank a cranberry drink with lots of polyphenols for eight weeks had fewer heart disease risks. Drinking cranberry juice might help prevent gum disease from plaque buildup on teeth.
- Rich in antioxidants
Cranberries and other fruits have lots of good stuff like quercetin, vitamin C, and vitamin E. These things help fight off bad stuff in your body. Antioxidants protect our cells from free radicals. That’s why they’re so valuable. Free radicals speed up aging and increase the risk of diseases like heart problems and also cancer.
- Lots of Micronutrients
You can find a lot of vitamin C and vitamin E in cranberry juice, especially if it’s unsweetened and pure. This meal’s got plenty of vitamins C, E, copper, K1, magnesium, and vitamin B12. Antioxidants like vitamins C and E are quite important for keeping your body healthy.
To answer your question, “Is cranberry juice good for constipation?” Yes, it somewhat does, but not directly.
Other juices for constipation
Only do cranberries make you poop? Cranberry juice isn’t the only drink that helps you poop better. Here are some other liquids that do the trick:
Prune juice
This juice is great for constipation because it’s got lots of fiber and sorbitol. Sorbitol is a natural laxative that attracts water to the intestines and softens the stool. Fiber adds bulk to the stool and helps with regular bowel movements. But, drinking too much prune juice can make you gassy and give you diarrhea. So, don’t go overboard.
Apple juice
This juice has lots of fructose and sorbitol, which could make you poop a little. Fructose sugar can be tough for some folks to digest because of its weird structure. This could make your belly swell and give you the runs. Both prune juice and apple juice have sorbitol, so they have the same effects. Apple juice has more sugar and less fiber than prune juice, so it might not be as good for constipation.
Pear juice
This drink has more sorbitol than apple juice, so some people think it’s a good laxative. Apple juice is like, super common. Pear juice has fiber and antioxidants that can keep your digestive system healthy. This juice, just like apple juice, can give you stomach cramps and diarrhea if you have too much.
Is cranberry juice good for constipation, only? Definitely not. Try out these juices also!
Other natural remedies for constipation
Is cranberry juice good for constipation? Yes, but there are other natural remedies for constipation available! Drinking juice, taking laxatives, and eating fiber-rich foods can help with constipation. Let’s discuss a little more.
Eating more fiber
Fiber helps make your poop big and soft, so it’s important for keeping your digestion on track. Fiber not only stops germs but also helps with tummy problems. Women should aim for 25 grams of fiber daily, while men should go for 38 grams. You can get more fiber by eating stuff like fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains.
Exercising regularly
Exercise can improve your muscles at controlling blood flow and improve blood flow too. This might help your gut move better and stop your poop from getting dry and hard. Try to get in 150 minutes of exercise this week. Go for a brisk walk, jog, bike ride, or swim to reach your goal.
Managing stress
Stress harms your digestion – it interferes with the release of enzymes, slows down your intestines, and messes with your gut bacteria. Stress can mess up your eating, drinking, and exercise routines, which can make you constipated. Constipation is a common sign of stress. It’s very important to handle stress, like meditation, yoga, exercise, hobbies, and therapy.
Using natural laxatives
Natural laxatives can help you poop faster and get rid of constipation right away. Some examples are aloe vera, magnesium, senna, and minerals. Magnesium is like a laxative that helps water go into your intestines and makes it easier to poop. and sennosides, which come from the senna plant, can make your colon neurons wake up and make your gut muscles contract more. The gooey part of aloe vera, called aloin, can also help with inflammation and as a laxative. Now, if you’re looking for something entirely different, like a fun party drink, you might want to explore How to Make Jungle Juice.
Wrapping Up
Is cranberry juice good for constipation? Drinking cranberry juice won’t cure constipation because there are many causes of that disease. But it definitely can help with constipation for some folks. Drinking more cranberry juice can help you poop better and avoid UTIs. But, drinking too much of it is bad for your kidneys. If you are suffering from painful constipation, contact a medical professional.
FAQs
Can I drink cranberry juice if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
Cranberry juice is safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. But be careful if have any allergies or medical issues. Also, drinking this juice might make you bleed more or have a miscarriage as it stimulates the uterus. Cranberry juice can up the chance of miscarriage. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, check with a doctor about cranberry juice consumption.
Is cranberry juice laxative?
Cranberry juice can help you go to the bathroom easier because it has a lot of proanthocyanidins. This helps activate digestive enzymes and make you poop regularly. But, the laxative effect can be pretty mild or too intense, depending on the person and how much they take.
What are the side effects of drinking too much cranberry juice?
Drinking too much cranberry juice can cause stomach problems like diarrhea, vomiting, heartburn, and even kidney stones. It can be harsh on the stomach and urinary system. This juice has oxalate, which can up the chance of kidney stones for some people. If you have over 8 ounces of cranberry juice every day, drink plenty of water to dilute it.
Does cranberry juice give you diarrhea?
Some people get the Diarrhea after drinking cranberry juice. So, anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics can easily mess with the tannins and anthocyanins in cranberry juice.
