Is Pineapple An Effective Remedy For Constipation?
Get your facts right before you count on this fruit to improve your gut health.
Experiencing constipation daily can be uncomfortable and occurs when the waste moves too slowly through the digestive system, making it hard to pass stool. If you want to throw the laxatives out of the window and go for natural remedies, try drinking some pineapple juice for your constipation. In this article, we explore some of the reasons why pineapple juice is good for saying goodbye to constipation.
Constipation – A Brief
The most common causes of constipation include diets that are low in fiber, a sedentary lifestyle, dehydration, ignoring urges to go to the bathroom, certain medications, etc (1). One of the best ways to treat this problem naturally is to eat pineapples or drink fresh pineapple juice. This is a delicious way to gain many wonderful health benefits, including making your bowel movements regular and smooth.
Pineapple Juice For Constipation
You may have heard how effective pineapple juice is for treating constipation. It acts as a natural laxative that does wonders in regulating your bowel movements (2). There is nothing better than a glass of fresh pineapple juice first thing in the morning to help ease constipation (3). As mentioned earlier, major causes of this problem include not getting enough dietary fiber, and dehydration. Pineapple is rich in fiber, which is why it is an effective natural remedy for constipation.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, you get 8 ounces of fluid and 0.5 grams of fiber with one cup of pineapple juice (4). They say that you need 20 to 35 grams of fiber, and at least 64 ounces of fluids every day to get relief from constipation. Pineapple also has natural plant enzymes, including bromelain, that play an important role in improving bowel function (5). By using pineapple juice as an alternative to stimulant laxatives, you avoid abdominal pain, gas, and loose motions.
As already mentioned, fresh pineapple juice is best because it is rich in fiber content (6). However, you need to keep in mind that it can also be dehydrating, and this can in turn cause constipation. This is why experts recommend drinking plenty of water after you drink this beneficial juice. Water is also important when you want relief from constipation, and hence, a combination of juice and water does you a lot of good.g
How Many Glasses Of Pineapple Juice Should You Drink?
It is important to know exactly how many glasses of pineapple juice you should take to get relief from constipation. According to experts, children who suffer from mild cases of constipation should be given half a cup of pineapple juice every morning (7). Adults should drink a glass of juice with a glass of water. If you still do not gain relief, you should drink another glass.
You can drink pineapple juice before or after meals to help in relieving constipation. You can also drink it with your meals. For many people, sipping pineapple juice slowly throughout the day has provided excellent results and helped them get rid of constipation quite quickly.
Treating Constipation Naturally
Using high-fiber foods to treat constipation is highly effective and provides you with loads of other health benefits (8). Other foods that you should increase in your daily diet to help in relieving constipation are whole-grain bread, bran cereal, legumes, green leafy vegetables, figs, raspberries, blueberries, apples, flaxseeds, etc. (9). These are all high-fiber foods that can effectively treat your condition naturally (10). There is nothing better than treating constipation with natural methods as they are safer and also highly effective.
Pineapple juice for constipation works effectively by regulating bowel movements as it has laxative properties. It is also rich in fiber, which can effectively manage constipation. In addition, bromelain, an enzyme present in pineapple, improves bowel function. Pineapple juice also eases abdominal pain, loose motions, and gas. Having 1-2 glasses of pineapple can provide relief from constipation. For kids giving half a cup of this juice can relieve constipation. However, having it in moderation helps reap the benefits as excess consumption of pineapple juice may aggravate constipation. Hence caution is advised.
Sources
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- Chronic constipation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5976340/ - International Journal of Science and Knowledge Quality evaluation and storage properties of yoghurt supplemented with pineapple juice
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309903458_International_Journal_of_Science_and_Knowledge_Quality_evaluation_and_storage_properties_of_yoghurt_supplemented_with_pineapple_juice - Fruit bromelain ameliorates rat constipation induced by loperamide
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319983766_Fruit_bromelain_ameliorates_rat_constipation_induced_by_loperamide - Pineapple juice canned or bottled unsweetened without added ascorbic acid
https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169947/nutrients - Treatment with oral bromelain decreases colonic inflammation in the IL-10-deficient murine model of inflammatory bowel disease
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15936249/ - In vitro bacterial fermentation of tropical fruit fibres
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23887033/ - Constipation in Children and Young People: Diagnosis and Management of Idiopathic Childhood Constipation in Primary and Secondary Care.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK65356/ - Diets for Constipation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC4291444/ - Effect of a very-high-fiber vegetable fruit and nut diet on serum lipids and colonic function
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/12045973_Effect_of_a_very-high-fiber_vegetable_fruit_and_nut_diet_on_serum_lipids_and_colonic_function - High-fiber diet for treatment of constipation in women with pelvic floor disorders
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18378750/