If you need help going number two, turn to these dietitian-approved drinks for constipation to get things moving.
Image Credit: Burak Karademir/Moment/GettyImages
In This Article
Coffee
Chia Water
Prune Juice
Smoothies
Kefir
Aloe Vera Juice
If you're feeling a little backed up, know that constipation is actually quite common. In fact, constipation affects 15 percent of the world's population, according to a January 2020 study in Gastroenterology.
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While knowing you're not alone won't provide you with the relief you're looking for, there is one simple thing you can do to help prevent and treat constipation: Drink enough liquids.
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Just staying hydrated with water and other fluids can help get things going and prevent you from getting backed up in the first place. In a study assessing the diets and stool consistency of more than 9,000 adults, not getting enough liquids was a primary factor associated with constipation, even more so than fiber, per the April 2013 results in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
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There's no hard and fast rule for how much you need to drink to stay hydrated, but in general, people assigned female at birth (AFAB) need about 12 cups of water each day and people assigned male at birth (AMAB) need about 16 cups, per the Mayo Clinic. Food provides us with about 20 percent of our fluid needs for the day, which means we need to be drinking the rest.
But if you’ve found yourself a little backed up, sipping certain beverages may help to get things moving again. Here are six drinks to help constipation and relieve a backed-up belly.
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1. Coffee
Coffee can get you going in more ways than one. “Your morning cup of coffee can also mean a morning poop — coffee poops are a real thing,” says gut health expert Amanda Sauceda, RDN, CLT. Caffeinated coffee may increase the amount of acid your stomach produces as well as boost colon movements, which can lead to a laxative effect, per a June 2017 review in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.
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But decaffeinated coffee might have a similar effect, as explained in this older, small study published in April 1990 in the journal Gut.
Water With Chia Seeds OK, water is an obvious choice and it should be your first solution if you’re feeling backed up but water with chia seeds is a double-whammy that works.
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Advertisement “Many of us are dehydrated when we wake up, so we should all start our mornings with a glass of water,” Sauceda shares. “You can double-up the pooping effect by adding a teaspoon of chia seeds and then letting the seeds soak for a few minutes. Most of us don’t eat enough fiber and chia seeds are packed full of fiber.” It’s the type of fiber found in chia seeds that make them so effective. About 87 percent of the fiber found in the tiny seeds is insoluble, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics — and we know insoluble fiber helps to relieve constipation.
Advertisement 3. Prune Juice Prunes have been a long-time go-to for staying regular and it’s because they’re so effective. This goes for prune juice, too. “Prunes are notorious for helping us poop,” shares Sauceda. “Prunes or prune juice contain sorbitol, which our body doesn’t digest well. This sugar pulls water into our gut, making us poop more easily.”
Advertisement If you’re drinking prune juice for constipation, start with a 1/2 cup serving daily for a few days and adjust as needed.
Smoothies When done right, smoothies can be the (almost) do-it-all drink. Unlike juice, they retain the fiber from added fruits and veggies (juices are stripped of all fiber). Dietary fiber is so good for our health, especially our digestive health.
Advertisement Plus, there are specific components found in common smoothie ingredients that can help keep you regular, or “clean you out,” such as fiber and digestive enzymes. Tip Try The Clean Sweep Smoothie, curated by IBS expert and dietitian Kate Scarlata, RDN.
Kefir This one can go either way because kefir is a dairy product and dairy can back some people up. But, kefir is also a rich source of probiotics and early research suggests they can help get your gut moving.
Advertisement After receiving a daily kefir beverage for four weeks, stool frequency and consistency were increased and laxative use decreased compared to baseline in a small group of people who live with chronic constipation, per a July 2019 clinical study in the Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology.
Aloe Vera Juice Aloe vera juice has been used historically to treat digestive issues, such as constipation, according to a January 2020 review in Systematic Reviews. The pulp or latex of aloe leaves contains a compound called anthraquinone, which is said to be responsible for its laxative effect, according to the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Aloe may also be useful in treating digestive conditions like IBS, and chronic constipation can be a symptom. Aloe vera was tied to improvements in IBS symptoms, including constipation, according to an October 2018 review in the Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility. Researchers say this could be because compounds in aloe may work against inflammation in the digestive tract. All that said, aloe vera latex may not be suitable for everyone with constipation. Taking too much of a laxative or taking them for prolonged periods can cause symptoms like dehydration and diarrhea, according to Mount Sinai. Aloe vera may also interact with medications, such as diabetes medications and blood thinning medications. Talk to your doctor before adding aloe vera juice to your routine. If you’re buying aloe vera juice, look for options that are made with few ingredients and don’t have added sugar. Tip Magnesium isn’t a drink you can buy on the shelves of your local supermarket, but you can add it to your beverages. “Magnesium can cause looser bowel movements and/or help with constipation,” Sauceda says. “Adding magnesium supplements to your water could be helpful. Keep in mind, if you have to rely on magnesium (or anything for that matter) to poop that’s a problem you’d want to see a doctor about.” Magnesium is found in many laxatives and it’s possible to take in too much of this mineral, as explained by the National Institutes of Health. If you’re considering magnesium powder, consult with your doctor or dietitian first.
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references
Gastroenterology: "Mechanisms, Evaluation, and Management of Chronic Constipation" American Journal of Gastroenterology: "Association of Low Dietary Intake of Fiber and Liquids with Constipation: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)" Gut: "Effect of Coffee on Distal Colon Function." Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: "Health Benefits of Chia — Learn About Its History, Nutrient Composition, and Current Research Regarding Its Health Benefits" Kate Scarlata: "The Clean Sweep Smoothie Recipe" Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology: "Effects of a Kefir Supplement on Symptoms, Colonic Transit, and Bowel Satisfaction Score in Patients With Chronic Constipation: A Pilot Study" National Institutes of Health: "Magnesium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals" World Journal of Gastroenterology: "Diet in irritable bowel syndrome: What to recommend, not what to forbid to patients!" Systematic Reviews: Association between anthraquinone laxatives and colorectal cancer: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis Mayo Clinic: Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day? Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility: Aloe vera Is Effective and Safe in Short-term Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: Aloe Vera Mount Sinai: Laxative Overdosereferences
Gastroenterology: "Mechanisms, Evaluation, and Management of Chronic Constipation" American Journal of Gastroenterology: "Association of Low Dietary Intake of Fiber and Liquids with Constipation: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)" Gut: "Effect of Coffee on Distal Colon Function." Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: "Health Benefits of Chia — Learn About Its History, Nutrient Composition, and Current Research Regarding Its Health Benefits" Kate Scarlata: "The Clean Sweep Smoothie Recipe" Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology: "Effects of a Kefir Supplement on Symptoms, Colonic Transit, and Bowel Satisfaction Score in Patients With Chronic Constipation: A Pilot Study" National Institutes of Health: "Magnesium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals" World Journal of Gastroenterology: "Diet in irritable bowel syndrome: What to recommend, not what to forbid to patients!" Systematic Reviews: Association between anthraquinone laxatives and colorectal cancer: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis Mayo Clinic: Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day? Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility: Aloe vera Is Effective and Safe in Short-term Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: Aloe Vera Mount Sinai: Laxative OverdoseIf you need help going number two, turn to these dietitian-approved drinks for constipation to get things moving. Image Credit: Burak Karademir/Moment/GettyImages
Image Credit: Burak Karademir/Moment/GettyImages
- Coffee
- Chia Water
- Prune Juice
- Smoothies
- Kefir
- Aloe Vera Juice
Try The Clean Sweep Smoothie, curated by IBS expert and dietitian Kate Scarlata, RDN.
Magnesium isn’t a drink you can buy on the shelves of your local supermarket, but you can add it to your beverages. “Magnesium can cause looser bowel movements and/or help with constipation,” Sauceda says. “Adding magnesium supplements to your water could be helpful. Keep in mind, if you have to rely on magnesium (or anything for that matter) to poop that’s a problem you’d want to see a doctor about.” Magnesium is found in many laxatives and it’s possible to take in too much of this mineral, as explained by the National Institutes of Health. If you’re considering magnesium powder, consult with your doctor or dietitian first.
“Adding magnesium supplements to your water could be helpful. Keep in mind, if you have to rely on magnesium (or anything for that matter) to poop that’s a problem you’d want to see a doctor about.”
Magnesium is found in many laxatives and it’s possible to take in too much of this mineral, as explained by the National Institutes of Health. If you’re considering magnesium powder, consult with your doctor or dietitian first.
Gastroenterology: "Mechanisms, Evaluation, and Management of Chronic Constipation"
American Journal of Gastroenterology: "Association of Low Dietary Intake of Fiber and Liquids with Constipation: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)"
Gut: "Effect of Coffee on Distal Colon Function."
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: "Health Benefits of Chia — Learn About Its History, Nutrient Composition, and Current Research Regarding Its Health Benefits"
Kate Scarlata: "The Clean Sweep Smoothie Recipe"
Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology: "Effects of a Kefir Supplement on Symptoms, Colonic Transit, and Bowel Satisfaction Score in Patients With Chronic Constipation: A Pilot Study"
National Institutes of Health: "Magnesium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals"
World Journal of Gastroenterology: "Diet in irritable bowel syndrome: What to recommend, not what to forbid to patients!"
Systematic Reviews: Association between anthraquinone laxatives and colorectal cancer: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Mayo Clinic: Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day?
Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility: Aloe vera Is Effective and Safe in Short-term Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: Aloe Vera
Mount Sinai: Laxative Overdose
