Everyone gets constipation every once in a while. Sedentary lifestyle, food habits or side effects of certain medication, whatever may be the cause, apple juice can help relieve constipation.
hard stools, difficult to pass stools or not having a bowel movement for more than three days in a row are all signs of constipation.
In some extreme cases, constipation may be due to any serious underlying condition, under those circumstances, consult your doctor. However, most of the constipation cases are routine and apple or apple juice are perhaps enough to cure it to get back to normal bowel movement. .
Table of Contents
- Why Apple Juice is good for Constipation?
- How to Use Apple Juice for Constipation Relief?
- Diluted Apple Juice for Constipated Babies
- Other Tips and Precautions
Why Apple Juice is good for Constipation?
A medium size red apple contains 3.8 grams of dietary soluble fiber half of it is pectin which helps in relief from constipation and diarrhea both. Fiber helps to move the food smoothly through the intestine. Pectin in apple is viscous, soluble and fermentable fiber. It can absorb water from the colon and make the texture of the stool smooth.
it is important to understand that the skin of the apple is fiber rich, therefore if you want to get relief from constipation, then eat the apple with its skin.
Apple also contains sorbitol a sugar alcohol, that acts as a natural mild laxative.
So apple is a double edged sword against constipation.
How to Use Apple Juice for Constipation Relief?
Use any of these or more for better bowel movement and to relieve constipation.
1. Drink Apple Juice for Constipation Relief
If you are suffering from chronic constipation, then apple juice will do a good job of giving you relief from it. Drink one or two glasses of apple juice daily.
Don't buy the commercially available sugary apple juice. The preservatives and added sugar in those bottled apple juices will obstruct the relief process. Make a fresh Apple juice and drink it.
Eating Apple is better than drinking the juice, but the choice is yours.
- Cut one medium size apple in 4-8 pieces
- Remove the seeds and stem
- Toss the pieces of apple in a blender.
- Add half a cup of water to blend well.
- Fill a glass of juice straight from the blender without straining
- Drink 2 times daily
This juice may not taste as well as the strained juice, but, hey you are not drinking it for taste. This one is for your constipation relief. If you want to enjoy the good taste and constipation relief both, then cut the apple in slices and eat or just munch the fruit straight by biting your teeth into a fresh ripe piece.
2. Clear Bowels with Apple and Prune Mix Juice
On its own, even prune juice is good for constipation. Apples and prunes both are rich in pectin, so combining them to make a cocktail juice make sense. In fact it even taste better. You will have to find your own ratio of the blend of apple and prune juices to suit your taste buds.
- make both juices separately
- Fill a glass half with apple juice and begin adding prune juice to it.
- Mix it well and taste.
- Keep adding and mixing well until you are satisfied with the taste of the cocktail.
- Drink the mix juice twice daily to get rid of constipation.
If you don't care about the right blend of both juices for your taste buds, then simply take equal quantities of both juices and mix them well before slowly sipping it. Within a couple of days you should be relieved of your constipation.
3. Apple and Pear Juice Cocktail for Constipation
Pear juice is good for constipation too. If you prefer you can pear juice instead of prune juice to apple juice.
- Make both juices separately
- Mix two juices in the ratio your taste buds like - any combination is ok from constipation relief point of view
- Drink twice daily.
You can even make a cocktail of all three juices - apple, pear and prune.
Diluted Apple Juice for Constipated Babies
Babies and children require special attention during constipation. There are many aspects you need to consider when you give apple juice to babies. Usually babies can adjust to the juices from the age of 6 months. Depending upon the age of the baby 1-3 oz of apple juice daily can be a safe quantity. You don't have to give the entire quantity at once. You can give small quantities every hour to give total of 1-3 oz during a day.
The juice also should be strained and diluted with an equal quantity of water to start with. You can gradually reduce the water content and may be at some stage give only apple juice to relieve her constipation.
In any case before starting to give apple juice to your baby, check with your pediatrician and follow advice.
Other Tips and Precautions
- Lead an active life
- Get up from your seat every hour and move around for 5 minutes if your job requires long sitting
- Do not eat foods that give you constipation - watch your eating and make a list of such foods
- Drink lots of water throughout the day
Apple juice works well both in adults and children to treat constipation. However, if you don't see any relief within a week of starting apple therapy for constipation then visit your doctor.