What’s the universal, yet often avoided topic that connects all living beings? It’s the undeniable fact that every organism, regardless of its size or complexity, eventually needs to expel waste. In simpler terms, everyone poops! However, if you find yourself going less than three times a week, it’s likely causing discomfort. Constipation can leave you feeling sluggish, bloated, and backed up, disrupting your daily life. Who has the time to spend hours in the bathroom, waiting for their digestive system to catch up with the rest of their body’s sense of urgency? Thankfully, there are straightforward dietary solutions that can help regulate your gut and promote healthy bowel movements, including beverages that can prompt immediate relief.
When your digestive system feels as locked up as a fortress, and you’re struggling to get things moving, the effort can lead to discomfort and potential health issues like hemorrhoids and fissures.
Nevertheless, when your body signals the urgent need for a bowel movement, but your colon refuses to cooperate, it creates a frustrating paradox. After finally achieving relief, you might reflect on why you couldn’t seem to poop despite the strong urge. However, in such moments, patience and introspection are not your priorities. What you truly crave is quick and effective relief. It’s time to explore some refreshing options that can kickstart your digestive system once more. So, what are some examples of drinks that can help you poop immediately?
1) Water
Registered dietitian Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, emphasizes that the primary step in relieving both acute and chronic constipation is ensuring proper hydration with water. She explains, “Consider this: constipation occurs when digested food becomes trapped in your intestines. Often, the solution is as simple as maintaining good hydration to facilitate the smooth passage of food through the gut.”
Marcus advises that adults should strive to consume approximately half of their body weight in ounces of water daily, which equates to roughly 1.5–2 liters. Additionally, she highlights the potential benefits of mineral waters, which can provide essential magnesium and sulfates, known for their natural laxative properties.
2) Water with lemon
Registered dietitian Caroline Thomason, RD, CDCES, points out that lemons and their juice contain citric acid, a type of vitamin C that research indicates may function as a gentle natural laxative for certain individuals without causing diarrhea. Thomason elaborates, stating, “When you consume lemon juice, it draws water into the gastrointestinal tract, which can effectively stimulate the process of bowel emptying.”
3) Chia fresca
Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian and author of “The First Time Mom’s Pregnancy Cookbook” and “Fueling Male Fertility,” highlights another beverage that can promote healthy bowel movements: the chia fresca. This drink combines chia seeds with water and a touch of lemon or lime. The insoluble fiber present in chia seeds is believed to play a role in softening stool, potentially leading to a laxative effect, as noted by the Cleveland Clinic.
4) Coffee
“Coffee is often associated with its caffeine content, but it can also serve as a natural stimulant for the digestive system,” notes Lauren Manaker.
Contrary to the common belief that coffee’s bowel-stimulating effects are solely attributed to caffeine, registered dietitian Kim Kulp, RDN, who owns the Gut Health Connection, asserts that even decaffeinated coffee can assist with bowel movements.
Kulp explains, “Even in the absence of caffeine, coffee has the ability to trigger the gastrocolic reflex. This reflex involves the stomach signaling the colon to make space for what’s on its way by contracting, effectively prompting a bowel movement.”
5) Fresh fruit juice
Ashley Kitchens, MPH, RDN, a plant-based registered dietitian and owner of Plant Centered Nutrition, recommends that juices such as pear, apple, and apricot can be beneficial for alleviating constipation. She explains, “Apple juice, in particular, boasts a relatively high fructose to glucose ratio and contains sorbitol, which may contribute to a gentle relief from constipation.”