Can Cranberry Be Your Solution to Constipation?

Can Cranberry Be Your Solution to Constipation? We’ve all had the sensation of sitting on the toilet bowl for several minutes, straining ourselves yet unable to defecate. Constipation is an unpleasant experience.

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For most of us, the sort of feces we excrete varies greatly, depending in part on what we’ve been doing and consuming. Dehydration, a day of strenuous activity, or a bowel movement delay can all result in drier-than-normal stool composition.

In this post, we’ll show you how to find natural cures for constipation and answer the question, “Does cranberry juice make you poop?”

Constipation

Constipation is one of the most frequent gastrointestinal problems in the United States. Every year, at least 2.5 million people see their doctor due to constipation. It affects people of all ages on a frequent basis.

You may not be passing stools on a daily basis, but you are not necessarily constipated. Constipation is a symptom, not a sickness, and is defined as having three or fewer difficult-to-pass bowel motions each week. Its other symptoms include needing to strain, physically evacuate, or consume a laxative, having lumpy or hard stools, and feeling incomplete defecation 25% of the time.

Can Cranberry Be Your Solution to Constipation

Food moves from the stomach to the small intestine. The small intestine is in charge of nutrition absorption from meals. As waste is pushed into the big bowels, water is eliminated from it, resulting in a solid material known as stool. The feces are momentarily trapped in the rectum before exiting the body via the anus. The medical names for the expulsion of body wastes are defecation and egestion.

Water accounts for around three-quarters of feces, with the remainder made up of solids such as undigested fiber, gut bacteria, and dietary fats. Various illnesses and events can have an impact on the color and texture of feces.

In Children

Constipation in children is a regular issue, with children presenting to the emergency department with agonizing stomach pain and discomfort. Then, a number of laboratory tests and diagnostics are performed, which indicate a large amount of impacted excrement in the intestines.

Children are more likely to have this symptom as a result of their withholding habits, potty training challenges, or dietary changes. Constipation can also be caused by a child’s medicine or a cow’s milk allergy.

During Pregnancy

Constipation affects the majority of pregnant women during all three trimesters. This is caused by progesterone hormones, which relax the bowels. Prenatal vitamins, particularly those containing iron, are also major causes of hard stools. In later pregnancy, as the uterus swells, pressure on the intestines creates this unpleasant feeling.

Constipation that persists

Constipation affects everyone at some point in their lives, from childhood to maturity. Chronic constipation is defined as constipation that lasts longer than three months. This might be linked to more difficult-to-treat illnesses.

Anus laceration, rectal bleeding, hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, and diverticulosis are all risks associated with inability to pass dry feces. Diverticulosis is an expansion of the large colon that results in the formation of a gut pouch, which can lead to infection or inflammation.

Keep your constipation under control while it is still early. Fortunately, there are several natural therapies that can spare us from expensive medical bills.

Natural Ways to Get Rid of Constipation

Over-the-counter (OTC) laxatives can help in the short term, but they might have unpleasant side effects, such as dehydration. People who take laxatives on a regular basis risk acquiring a physical reliance on them. As a result, it is always preferable to employ natural methods to cure constipation.

Fiber

Taking fiber supplements or eating more fibrous foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will help you have more stools that travel easily through your intestines. Every day, adults should consume between 28 and 34 grams of fiber.

Exercise

Physical exercise helps feces travel through the intestines. Regular exercise, with the advice of a doctor, can help reduce constipation. If exercise isn’t a priority or a practical choice, go for a daily stroll.

Probiotics

Probiotics are helpful bacteria that dwell in the gut and aid in its correct functioning. They may help to repopulate gut bacteria with good strains that encourage regular bowel motions. Probiotics are abundant in yogurt, sauerkraut, and kimchi.

Water

Drinking enough of water makes feces soft and easier to pass. If drinking water isn’t helping, try clear soups, teas, and naturally sweetened fruit or vegetable juices.

However, for some people, a diet high in water, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is out of reach. As a constipation remedy, most people turn to fruit juices.

Constipation and Juicing

If you want to drink fruit juice to relieve constipation, bear in mind that only a small amount of juice may be needed. Adults should drink half to a full cup of juice once a day, preferably first thing in the morning.

When purchasing ready-made juices, try to purchase 100% fruit juices. Some fruit juices and fruit drinks have a lot of added sugars and will not treat constipation as well as 100% fruit juice.

Pruning, apple, and citrus juice are the finest juices for constipation. Aloe vera, pineapple, watermelon, and cucumber juice are among more options.

The most common juice for constipation relief is prune juice. Each 8-ounce drink has about 2.6 grams of fiber. That’s around 10% of your daily calorie requirement.

Some people have a minor laxative effect from apple juice. It is usually recommended for children with constipation due to its high fructose and sorbitol content. Too much of it, on the other hand, may induce intestinal pain.

Pear juice is another good option because it contains four times as much sorbitol as apple juice. Because many youngsters appreciate the flavor of this juice, it is usually advised for constipation problems.

Cranberry juice is another popular choice for its laxative effect. Cranberries have been mentioned for their role in gut health and the microbiota, but it’s uncertain if the juice provides the same benefits. Despite its tiny size, the fruit is high in vitamins and minerals. Aside from that, it has other advantages that we shall discuss later.

What Is Cranberry Juice Made Of?

An 80g serving of fresh cranberries has the following nutrients:

12 kilocalories / 52 kilojoules
Protein: 0.3g
0.1 gram of fat
Carbohydrate content: 2.7g
2.7 g of sugar
3.2g of fiber
potassium 76mg
Vitamin C 10mg

An 80g serving of fresh cranberries or a single glass of 150ml unsweetened cranberry juice counts as one of your five-a-day fruit requirements.

However, only one glass counts, and more will not help you fulfill your five-a-day need. This applies to all fruit juices.

Health Advantages

Could Aid in UTI Prevention

Cranberry juice, typically in the form of a juice cocktail drink containing around 25% cranberry juice, has long been the go-to cure for most women seeking to avoid urinary tract infections. The tannin in the red berry may aid in the prevention of E. coli germs sticking to the bladder’s walls, where they can cause sickness. You must eat cranberry juice on a regular basis if you want to utilize it to avoid UTIs. However, the precise quantity you must consume has yet to be discovered.

Promotes Gut Health

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterium that causes stomach ulcers, can be suppressed by cranberry juice’s A-type proanthocyanidins. Cranberry’s antioxidant capabilities can also give anti-inflammatory characteristics, which are important components in the prevention of colon cancer.

Antioxidants are essential.

Cranberry juice is high in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that prevents free radicals from damaging the body’s healthy cells and DNA. This reduces the risk of developing diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and vascular conditions in the long run.

Aids in cardiovascular health

Anthocyanins, a component of cranberry juice, have been researched for their ability to minimize the risk of cholesterol accumulation on blood arteries, also known as atherosclerosis.

Dental Care

Proanthocyanidins, a vitamin present in cranberries, inhibit bacteria from attaching together, reducing plaque development in 95 percent of cases. It inhibits the formation of sugars in our mouth and makes the formation of acids more difficult, resulting in less tooth enamel damage.

Does Cranberry Juice Cause Constipation?

Cranberry juice does, in some ways, make you defecate. The research behind this indicates to the negative consequences of drinking too much fruit juice. Excessive cranberry juice consumption can ease dehydration, with the added advantage of consuming healthy sugars. Studies have also indicated that it can help those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) who are constipated.

Rehydrates the body

Because of dehydration, certain people are more prone to constipation. Water is required by your body for smooth stool passage. As a consequence, increasing your intake of cranberry juice might help you avoid dehydration and constipation. However, there is no proof that cranberry juice is any more beneficial than water.

Fructose levels have risen.

It is not possible to get diarrhea from consuming too much cranberry juice. Diarrhea can be triggered by consuming too much fruit juice or eating too much fruit. Fructose, a kind of sugar that can cause diarrhea in persons who have difficulty digesting it, causes loose stools. Sugars draw water into the intestinal lumen, increasing feces’ water content.

Yes, you may benefit from the looser stools caused by drinking too much cranberry juice. Consuming large volumes of juice, on the other hand, might cause stomach discomfort. In addition to diarrhea, you may get a stomachache or abdominal cramps.

Furthermore, according to MedlinePlus, drinking too much cranberry juice—more than 1 liter per day—can increase the chance of kidney stones over time, especially in people who are predisposed to them. Furthermore, these negative consequences may occur at lower levels in pregnant women.

Whether you want to consume cranberry juice for medical purposes, go to your doctor first to determine if it’s suitable for you.

Gut Microbiome Enhancement

Natural salicylate present in cranberry juice has been reported to lower the quantity of Enterobacteriaceae, particularly E. coli., which are found in higher quantities in those who suffer from digestive diseases such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Cranberry juice may help persons with IBS who suffer from symptoms such as constipation because of its ability to prevent bacterial proliferation.

Precautions and Adverse Reactions

Cranberry juice at a dosage of 120-300 mL can be drank 1-3 times per day with no negative consequences. Meanwhile, children can drink 5 mL/kg of cranberry juice every day for six months without risk.

A cranberry allergy is conceivable, although it appears to be uncommon. Salicylic acid, which is found in the berries, can trigger allergic responses in persons who are sensitive to it. Those who are sensitive to aspirin should avoid consuming large amounts of cranberry juice.

While juice can help with bowel motions, it should not be used to treat chronic constipation. If you have regular bowel motions problems, you should see your doctor.

Fruit juices are high in sugar, therefore if you have diabetes or need to reduce your sugar intake for other reasons, you should limit your juice consumption.

Cranberries and concentrated cranberry products may contain high levels of oxalates, which may increase the risk of kidney stones in some people.

Certain prescription medications, such as warfarin, may interact with cranberries and any products including or containing the juice of cranberries. Before juicing, see your doctor.

Conclusion

While cranberry juice has numerous benefits, it should be used in moderation. It may not be the greatest technique to relieve constipation because its laxative capability is a side effect of drinking too much fruit juice.

Even if you enjoy cranberry juice, you may want to find other reasons to consume it other from making you defecate. Furthermore, there are other reasons of constipation, and cranberry juice may not be the solution for everyone.

Can Cranberry Be Your Solution to Constipation?