Prune Juice For Constipation: Does It Work? - Healthline

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Can I Use Prune Juice to Treat My Constipation?

Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R.N., CCRN, CPN — Written by Natalie Silver — Updated on March 8, 2019

Prunes and prune juice are great options for relieving constipation. They help your body function in a variety of ways and can even prevent the onset of certain conditions.

If you’re constipated or just having trouble with regular bowel movements, it may be time to look for a method to ease your digestion.

Keep reading to learn about the benefits of adding prunes, now called “dried plums,” to your diet.

The basics of constipation

Constipation is a condition that affects your gastrointestinal system, making it difficult to have a bowel movement. Everyone’s regular bowel movements vary, but if you haven’t passed stool in two or three days, you may be constipated.

Causes of constipation

There are a number of reasons you may be constipated. These include:

inactivity
eating a low-fiber diet
travelling
consumption of a large amount of dairy products
taking certain medications
having medical conditions such as pregnancy, irritable bowel syndrome, or neurological disorders

Treating constipation

Constipation can be treated with a variety of methods. Adding exercise to your lifestyle, drinking more water, and allowing yourself plenty of time in the bathroom may help.

Stimulating the gastrointestinal system may take some planning on your part. Adding a laxative to your diet may be necessary to relieve constipation. Over-the-counter medications and natural remedies can also help. You can also consider stool softeners, fiber products containing psyllium, and foods high in fiber when you are feeling constipated. Check out this list of 22 high-fiber foods.

Shop for laxatives and stool softeners.

Prunes are also a great option.

Prunes and prune juice: A natural remedy for constipation

Eating prunes, or dried plums, can alleviate constipation. According to a study in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, dried plums and their derivatives, such as prune juice, can prevent constipation and may prevent colon cancer. The nutrients found in prunes may also help control obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

Research also shows that using prunes and prune juice can be more effective than other constipation-relieving methods. One study in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics states that prunes work even better than medications containing psyllium. Another study says that prunes should be used as a first-line therapy for constipation.

A super fruit

Dried plums are considered to be very good for your overall health. Prune juice is filtered, so it doesn’t have the high fiber content of dried prunes. Still, both are laxatives because of their high sorbitol content. Dried plums also contain:

iron, which helps prevent anemia
potassium, which aids in healthy blood pressure
sugars combined with soluble fiber, which provides sustained energy
phenolic compounds, which help prevent chronic diseases
boron, which can help prevent osteoporosis

Recommended serving sizes

Prune juice is an effective remedy for constipation in both children and adults. When giving prune juice to an infant, the Mayo Clinic recommends trying 2 to 4 ounces at a time and adjusting the amount as needed. For adults, drink 4 to 8 ounces of prune juice each morning to stimulate a bowel movement.

Shop for prune juice.

Just remember that more isn’t always better. Adding more fiber doesn’t always help stimulate a bowel movement. Extra fiber can make you feel worse if you’re dehydrated. It’s important to only stick with one serving, or six dried plums, per day.

If you experience chronic constipation, or if eating prunes and drinking prune juice doesn’t solve your problems, contact your doctor for professional advice. Also, make sure to talk to your doctor if you begin to experience:

rectal or abdominal pain
blood in your stool
thin stool
unexplained weight loss

Want more information about the health benefits of prunes? Click here for 11 other benefits of prunes and prune juice.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

AttaluriA, et al. (2011). Randomised clinical trial: Dried plums (prunes) vs. psylliumfor constipation. DOI:http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2011.04594.x
Constipation.(2015).https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/constipation
GurlandB. (2015). Constipation: 6 ways to unblock yourself.https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/07/constipation-6-ways-to-unblock-yourself/
HoeckerJL. (2017). What are the signs of infant constipation? And what’s the best wayto treat it?http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/expert-answers/infant-constipation/faq-20058519
LeverE, et al. (2014). Systematic review: The effect of prunes on gastrointestinalfunction. DOI:http://doi.org/10.1111/apt.12913
Nutritionproblems & their solutions. (2014).https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/nutrition-problems-and-their-solutions
Stacewicz-SapuntzakisM. (2012). Dried plums and their products: Composition and health effects–Anupdated review. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2011.563880
Stacewicz-SapuntzakisM, et al. (2010). Chemical composition and potential health effects of prunes: Afunctional food? DOI:http://doi.org/10.1080/20014091091814

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Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R.N., CCRN, CPN — Written by Natalie Silver — Updated on March 8, 2019

Prune Juice For Constipation: Does It Work? - Healthline

The basics of constipation

Causes of constipation

Treating constipation

Prunes and prune juice: A natural remedy for constipation

A super fruit

Recommended serving sizes

How we reviewed this article:

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