Did you know that Americans spend over $725 million yearly on laxatives? That's a lot of constipation! In fact, constipation is one of the most common digestive complaints heard by doctors. Most of the time, constipation is caused by a low-fiber diet, combined with a lack of exercise and fluids. Well, it is no surprise to me that juicing can help regulate bowel movements! Juices can provide you with the right kinds of fluids and get you the nutrients you need to counter act the effects of a low-fiber diet.
Nutrients for Constipation Relief
Here's a list of nutrients and their natural sources that will help keep your bowel movements regular:
- Calcium: Calcium helps to clean out excess fat and bile in the colon and is important for overall health, but if you take too much calcium it can cause constipation. Not to worry! When taken with Magnesium at the same time, you can prevent constipation and still receive the benefits of Calcium.
- Magnesium: Magnesium helps with muscle function, and can therefore help regulate intestinal muscle function. Sources: spinach, beets, Swiss chard, parsley, collard greens, carrots and broccoli
- Supplemental Fiber: Psyllium (found in Metamucil) is very successful for regulation but can have a drying effect on your colon. Freshly ground flaxseed might be more effective- sprinkle it in your juice, over your cereal or in your yoghurt!
- Probiotics: probiotics can also help improve bowel regulation. A great source is probiotic yoghurt.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C can also prevent constipation. Additionally, it helps avoid the formation of abnormal openings between the bladder and the colon (called fistulas). Sources: Parsley, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, watercress, strawberries, cabbage, spinach, lemons, limes, oranges, turnips and asparagus
Juices That Provide Constipation Relief
Apple, pear, parsley and radish juice all help to stimulate the regular function of the intestines.
**Caution: An overdose of parsley juice can be toxic. To be safe, stick with no more than 1/2 to 1 cup of pure parsley juice a day. If you are pregnant, avoid parsley juice all together! **
Prune Juice is a common laxative. But no, it is not made by juicing prunes- they're dried, remember! Prune juice is made from the specific types of plums that prunes are made of. Unfortunately, these plums can be a big hard to find.
Lastly,
boysenberry juice can act as a gentle laxative.
Suggest Juice Recipes
Here are some juicing recipes from our blog that can help prevent constipation and provide relief from constipation. Give them a try and let us know what you think!
- Cleanse My Colon
- I'm Feeling Beet- Cleanse Me
- Gallbladder-Liver Cleaner
- Sinus Cleanse
Comments
Natalie - Thanks for the nice reply! My older son (7) will probably drink juices without a problem. He just took up golf as a sport and idolizes Tiger Woods, so if I say Tiger drinks veggie juice, he will too. I think he'll really benefit from juicing. He has a significant language disorder. He is already on a special diet and supplements to help his brain processing.
My little guy (4) is the one with eczema. He is extremely picky and gags on veggies. He's on a Gf diet as well. I'm wondering if I can get him started on some diluted apple-carrot. That's a pretty easy drink. Although apples seem to flare his eczema a bit. Perhaps pear or grape would be better? Anyway, thanks!
Christine, I'm so happy to hear that you find our blog so helpful! We write posts rather often about juicing recipes and general information about juicing (Check the juicing info and tips area). I will definitely keep your malabsorption an eczema topics in mind next time I'm doing some research. Poor little guy! I had eczema as a kid.
If you'd like to get your kids to eat veggies, juicing is a great way to do it, and getting them started young is definitely a good thing to try. However, if you've ever tried green juice, I'm sure you know that it doesn't exactly taste like strawberries. You already have the idea though- you'll have to mask it. Juice a nice strong green, but mix in some carrot (carrots are a rather sweet veggie so kids of them in juice) and maybe an apple or strawberries or... any kind of fruit your son likes. That way, you can also slowly ease him off of heavy fruit juices to a stronger vegetable juice. No specific recipes come to mind but I'll experiment and try to let you know if I post one in particular. Good luck on the contest!
This is great news! I am having some issues so hopefully juicing will help. I haven't had a juicer for a few years, and I can't remember if it did or not. Also, I have problems with malabsorption (being gluten free helps), and I imagine that juicing would deliver nutrients very quickly to my blood.
On a side note - Did you ever feel like you were 'guided' by something, to something that you need? I have been having some health issues that I finally found out pointed to too much acid in my body. My friend was doing a ph diet and mentioned it to me, and something 'clicked'. I then did some research, and then found a book on it and bought it. I started it a week ago and feel so much better! Then I was thinking... I need a juicer as a way to get more raw alkaline veggies into my body. (I believe in the law of attraction and know that's how I was led to your blog.) I just happened to find your blog via your juicer giveaway through Google. Now I'm here finding all of these recipes, and most of them fit my new alkaline lifestyle. Even if I don't win the juicer, I am thrilled to find your blog and have subscribed and will continue to read. (I'm just happy that I was led here!) And eventually, when I can get the money together, I'll likely buy one of your juicers. Also, I have 2 little boys with food sensitivities. One has malabsorption problems as well, and the other has bad eczema. (Right now they are gluten free, casein free and we also avoid soy, peanuts, kidney beans, pineapple, blueberries and sesame.) Getting vegetables into them is not easy. My little guy gags when he eats vegetables. I'm thinking I can somehow disguise the veggies in juice. If you have any good recipes for kids (i.e. disguising the veggies), let me know or post them! Thanks!
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