Let’s be real: being constipated is not something you want on a daily basis. This can be uncomfortable and cause stomach pain, bloating and gas, which can quickly derail your plans. If you find yourself in this uncomfortable situation, there are things you can do to provide some relief, such as finding the right foods or drinks to help you poop.
Not getting enough fiber, being dehydrated, or eating a lot of processed foods can lead to constipation. Focusing on increasing fiber intake and drinking plenty of water can help you prevent constipation, but what about those times when it still creeps in and threatens to ruin your day? For a quick fix when you need to poop, consuming foods like prunes, raisins, sweet potato, chia seeds or black beans can help. But it’s not just food that can help. There are a few drinks that can also help.
Besides water to help you stay hydrated, Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN says that coffee is one of the best drinks to choose for relieving constipation. And if you’re not a coffee drinker, she says prune juice is a great alternative. Read on to learn more, then check out the 11 Worst Snacks for Your Gut Health.
The #1 drink to help you poop is coffee.
There are a few main reasons why many of us feel the need to go to the bathroom as soon as we’ve had our morning coffee.
On the one hand, drinking coffee interacts with your digestive system. According to Manaker, “He stimulates the gastrointestinal tractwhich increases peristalsis, the movements your intestines make to push contents out. “In other words, drinking coffee causes the muscles in your colon to contract, which usually leads to a bowel movement.
In addition to stimulating your gastrointestinal tract, “coffee’s natural acidity can increase stomach acid production, making digestion easier,” says Manaker.
Caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee also contain acids that stimulate specific hormones called gastrin– which can increase the muscle contractions that cause you to poop.
Manaker says that for many people, “just drinking a warm liquid in the morning can stimulate bowel movements.” However, she adds, “it should be noted that people’s reactions to coffee can vary, with some being more sensitive to its effects than others.”
If you are a coffee drinker, continue to enjoy that cup of coffee and the digestive movements that come with it. But if you don’t like coffee, there’s always a drink option to try when you’re constipated and need to poop.
If you don’t like coffee, try prune juice when you need to poop.
Not everyone can stomach a glass of prune juice, but it’s a great alternative to coffee when you need a drink to help you go to the bathroom.
“Prune juice is often praised as a natural remedy for constipation because of its dietary fiber and sorbitol,” says Manaker. “The fiber in prune juice adds bulk to stools, which helps promote smoother bowel movements. Sorbitol, a natural sugar alcohol found in prunes, works like a laxative by drawing water into the intestines, softening the stools and making them easier to pass.
She notes that “this combination of effects makes prune juice an effective and gentle way to relieve constipation and promote regular bowel movements.”
Ultimately, Manaker says staying hydrated is the most important thing because it “promotes healthy stools and overall digestive health.”
Subscribe to our newsletter !
Samantha Boesch
Samantha was born and raised in Orlando, Florida, and now works as a writer in Brooklyn, New York. Learn more about Samantha
#Drink #Poop #Dietitian
