Constipation and irregular bowel movement, in general, can become a daily, painful struggle. Not knowing when you are going to the toilet again can also become an emotional issue.
If you do not want to be dependent on OTC (over-the-counter) laxatives, you can begin adding things to your daily diet to improve your bowel movement. Pooping doesn’t have to be difficult anymore, and you can have a better bowel movement in a few days if your diet promotes better bowel movement.
Is Orange Juice a Good Laxative?
While orange juice is not precisely a laxative, it can be consumed to help condition the digestive tract to move normally again. It can help increase motility and improve the transit time of digested food extensively if consumed regularly.
If you want to use OJ as a means to flush your system, experts believe that it is probably safe to vitamin C flush. Buffered ascorbate is recommended for people who have issues with stomach sensitivity.
The additional levels of vitamin C in your digestive system will cause your digestion to speed up, resulting in sped-up stool movement. Proponents say that eventually, you will have watery stool, which is one of the signs that the older, solid stools have already been removed and your colon is squeaky clean.
Keep in mind that vitamin C flushes are not medically recommended because many scientific studies do not back these. There is no harm in trying, and if it helps relieve your constipation, and you feel lighter as a result, then why not?
However, vitamin C flushes and drinking acidic beverages are not recommended for people with certain health conditions such as kidney issues, hepatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, Gilbert’s disease, and hemochromatosis.
Also, keep in mind that OTC vitamin C brands differ in quantity and quality, so don’t expect the same results. The same guidance applies to commercial orange juice brands. Not every orange juice brand will contain the same high amount of vitamin C if you’d like to conduct a flush with orange juice.
Is Whole Orange Better than Orange Juice Only?
Yes, eating whole oranges is better and more efficient in remedying constipation than drinking orange juice only. While orange juice is already excellent for digestion because it improves the gut microbiota, eating the entire orange gives you access to a broader plethora of nutrients that support the digestive system.
Citrus fruits, in general, are excellent for aiding people who are suffering from constipation. A single serving of orange can provide you with nearly 4 grams of fiber, which is about 15% of the RDI for dietary fiber for healthy adults.
The dietary fiber in orange juice is minimal because of how the fruits are processed in the first place. To get the pulp and the thread that will help soften your stool, you have to eat the fruit, too.
There is no need to give up the juice, but to balance things out, invest in whole fruit, too. If you are getting tired of the taste of oranges, you can also try other citrus fruits like lemons and grapefruit.
Another possible reason why citrus fruit is so healthy for the gut is that they are naturally rich in antioxidants like naringenin, which has been shown to have a direct beneficial impact on constipation.
Naringin (NAR) is a flavonoid found in many fruits (especially citrus fruits) and tomatoes, and this flavonoid has been found to produce beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects. NAR has also been shown to have anti-cancer benefits. So, when you are eating oranges, you’re also protecting your organs from developing cancer cells.
What Juices Make You Poop?
Many kinds of juices can help remedy your constipation. Drinking natural or commercial fluids can help improve your digestion gradually over the year, so you would not have to depend heavily on OTC laxatives.
OTC laxatives have side effects, and they should not be used for months because they might cause dependency. Dependency on laxatives can mean that you won’t be able to have any bowel movements without the presence of the OTC laxative.
That’s nothing to look forward to, so it’s a better recourse to drink natural juices to relieve constipation. People have specific sensitivities to all kinds of beverages and food, and if orange juice does not make you feel well, try the other juice types listed here.
- Apple juice – Apple juice is a classic folk remedy for constipation. If you need something gentle on the gut as it speeds up gradually the stool transit. Don’t consume large servings of apple juice at one time either, because apple juice has been known to cause some bloating and intestinal discomfort if you drink too much. Remember that apples contain pectin, a type of dietary fiber that draws water to the colon efficiently. It’s fine in small doses, but if you have too much, that’s going to have a significant effect on your digestion.
- Pear juice – Who would have thought that pears can be of help to people with digestion issues? Pears contain a lot of sorbitol (more so than apple juice), so it is a good pick if your child has constipation, too. It is gentle on digestion, and while it is not as nutrient-dense as other fruit juices (commercial or otherwise), it’s still an excellent option for taking back control of bowel movements. As always, do not drink too much on the first try, and give yourself time to adjust to what the pear juice does to your digestion before drinking some more. Two servings a day is ideal.
