Your ultimate source for expert nutrition tips and health advice, covering wellness, healthy recipes, cooking hacks, food news, style trends and shopping. What’s the one great equalizer between all living creatures—and yet, no one likes to talk about? Every organism, from protozoa to people, reaches a point where they need to exert waste.
In other words, everybody poops! But if your regular routine involves pooping less than three times a week, chances are that you’re not feeling too hot. The discomfort accompanying constipation can leave you feeling sluggish, backed up, and bloated in ways that can disrupt your entire day.
‘Adults should aim for half of their body weight in ounces, or about 1.5–2 liters a day,’ adds Marcus. ‘Mineral waters can further provide magnesium and sulfates, which are known for their laxative effects.’According to registered dietitian Caroline Thomason, RD, CDCES, lemons and their juice contain a form of vitamin C called citric acid, which research suggests can act as a natural laxative for some people without causing diarrhea.
‘Coffee may be best known for its caffeine content, but drinking coffee can also trigger the digestive system to work, causing things to ‘get moving’ naturally,’ says Manaker. ‘Juices like pear, apple, and apricot can provide constipation relief,’ says Ashley Kitchens, MPH, RDN, plant-based registered dietitian and owner of Plant Centered Nutrition. ‘Apple juice has a fairly high ratio of fructose to glucose and sorbitol content, which may help gently relieve constipation.