Learn whether cranberry juice makes you poop and if it’s an effective natural laxative.

Plus, get a doctor’s tips to treat constipation.

Think Youve Got Food Poisoning?

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One of those remedies was likely cranberry juice.

But there are a number of otherhealth benefits of cranberries, too.

But does cranberry juice have a positive effect on your gut?

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registered dietitian and gut health expert

More specifically, can cranberry juice help you poop?

Does cranberry juice make you poop?

In shortyes, it can.

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The first being hydration.

A typical serving (8 ounces) will gently help your stool move through your GI tract.

Serving size is important.

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Salicylate is known for increasing the healthy bacteria in the bowel, she explains.

But she mentions this isnt common, and likely wouldnt happen unless youve hadlotsof cranberry juice.

If your stool appears black, however, this is not from cranberry juice.

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registered dietitian and gut health expert

This conditionknown as melenais not typically from cranberry or other fruit juices, per theCleveland Clinic.

How much cranberry juice can you drink per day?

Dr. Robbins also recommends incorporating bothsoluble and insoluble fiberinto your diet, asfoods with either can help you poop.

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Always ask your doctor before trying them though, to see if theyre right for you.

Try an abdominal massage

Abdominal massagecan help stimulate your colon and get stool moving, per Sauceda.

Get some exercise

Getting daily movement can help move your bowels along.

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This can includewalking aroundyour neighborhood, Pilates,yogaor stretching, or any other activity you enjoy.

If you suspect a medication is contributing to your constipation, talk to your doctor, she recommends.

If needed, they may be able to adjust your dosage or suggest an alternative medication.

This could include a supplement like Metamucil or Benefiber, or a stimulant laxative like Miralax.

The bottom line

Cranberry juice is often used as a UTI prevention method orat-home UTI remedy.

It also has several other health benefits due to its antioxidant content.

That said, there are other fruits that are better natural laxatives, likeprunesor prune juice, for example.

FAQ

Does cranberry juice make you have diarrhea?

For some people, cranberry juice can cause diarrhea.

Even natural sugar like fructose can trigger diarrhea in some people, including those with IBS.

When should younotdrink cranberry juice?

Other foods high in oxalates include leafy greens, potatoes, soy, and almonds, perColorado State University.

reviewed byJennifer Logan, MD, MPH

Zhao, Shaomin et al.

American cranberries and health benefits an evolving story of 25 years.Journal of the science of food and agriculturevol.

100,14 (2020): 5111-5116. doi:10.1002/jsfa.8882

Blumberg, Jeffrey B et al.

2019 Feb;54(2):169-177. doi: 10.1080/00365521.2019.1568544.

Epub 2019 Mar 7.

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