Do you have bowel movements when juicing?
Juicing has become an increasingly popular way for people to increase their intake of fruits and vegetables. By extracting the juice from produce, you can consume a large quantity of micronutrients, vitamins, and minerals in their raw form. Some of the touted benefits of juicing include improved digestion, weight loss, detoxification, and boosting immunity. However, one side effect many people experience when starting a juicing regimen is increased bowel movements or diarrhea. In this article, we’ll explore the connection between juicing and bowel movements, and provide tips for how to manage this side effect.
Why Juicing Causes Bowel Movements
There are a few reasons why juicing tends to stimulate bowel movements and diarrhea in some individuals:
- High fiber content – Juices extracted from vegetables and fruits are packed with soluble and insoluble fiber. This fiber adds bulk to stool and promotes gut motility.
- Malabsorption of fructose – Some fruits like apples have high amounts of fructose. Too much fructose consumption can lead to poor absorption in the small intestine, resulting in osmotic diarrhea when it reaches the large intestine.
- Enzyme consumption – Juices are high in enzymes from raw produce. Enzymes help break down fiber and compounds in the juice, increasing its laxative effect.
- Detox reactions – If you are new to juicing, suddenly flooding your system with raw plant compounds can trigger a detox reaction. Diarrhea helps flush out toxins released from tissues during this process.
Produce Items Most Likely to Cause Bowel Movements When Juicing
While all fresh juices have the potential to get things moving, certain ingredients are more likely to cause urgent bowel movements or loose stools. Here are some to be mindful of:
- Apples – High in fiber from pectin and fructose sugars.
- Oranges – The citric acid can stimulate gut motility. Also high in fructose.
- Grapes – Contain the compound salicylate which can irritate some people’s digestive systems.
- Prunes – Well known for their laxative effect. The skin contains a compound (dihydrophenylisatin) that stimulates the colon.
- Spinach – Raw spinach is very high in insoluble oxalic acid, which can bind minerals and cause digestive upset in sensitive individuals.
- Beets – The pigment betalain can cause beeturia (reddening of the urine and stools). Some people experience diarrhea from beets.
If you are new to juicing, you may want to avoid or reduce the amount of the produce above at first. Pay attention to your body’s signals to figure out which ingredients bother your system.
Tips to Prevent Bowel Issues When Juicing
Here are some suggestions to help avoid or minimize urgent bowel movements and diarrhea when juicing:
- Drink juices slowly – Don’t gulp them down. Sip small amounts spread throughout the day.
- Dilute with water – Mix juices half and half with filtered water to reduce concentration.
- Reduce portion sizes – Stick to about 8 ounces of juice at a time until your body adjusts.
- Avoid fruits high in fructose – Stick to lower sugar items like cucumber, celery, kale, etc
- Include probiotics – Add probiotic supplements or fermented foods to support your gut microbiome.
- Add ginger – Fresh ginger can help ease digestive upset and diarrhea from juices.
- Avoid exercise after – Don’t workout right after consuming a large amount of juice when starting out.
It’s also important to chew your produce thoroughly before juicing. This starts the digestive process to prevent compounds from reaching the colon undigested where they can cause osmotic diarrhea.
When to See a Doctor
In most cases, increased bowel movements and diarrhea during a juice cleanse will resolve on their own within a few days as your digestive system adjusts. However, if you experience severe or bloody diarrhea, or symptoms last more than 3 days, you should consult a doctor rule out any underlying conditions. Seek urgent medical attention if you also have a fever over 101 F, severe abdominal pain, dizziness or weakness.
The Takeaway on Juicing and Bowel Movements
Having to run to the bathroom frequently can be an unpleasant but normal side effect when you start drinking vegetable and fruit juices. This effect should subside as your gut microbes adapt to the influx of nutrients and fiber. Pay attention to what produce tends to stimulate your system the most. Introducing juices gradually, diluting, and mixing probiotics can help minimize unwanted bowel reactions so you can enjoy the benefits of juicing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does juicing cause diarrhea initially?
It’s very common to experience loose stools or diarrhea when first starting a juicing regimen. Sudden high amounts of sugars, fiber, enzymes, and plant compounds in juice can trigger increased bowel movements. Diarrhea and digestive upset usually resolves within a few days as your system adjusts.
Is it normal to poop a lot while juicing?
Yes, having more frequent bowel movements and even diarrhea for the first few days of juicing is normal. Your digestive system isn’t used to dealing with the high concentration of micronutrients, fiber, and compounds in fresh juices. As your gut microbes adapt, bowel movements tend to normalize.
How long does juicing diarrhea last?
For most people, any diarrhea or digestion issues from juicing will resolve within 72 hours. If symptoms last longer than 3 days, or you experience severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, or dehydration, seek medical guidance to rule out any underlying conditions.
What juice gives you diarrhea?
Juices high in fructose from fruit (like apples and grapes) or insoluble fiber (like raw spinach and beets) are most likely to cause diarrhea in sensitive individuals. Start with lower sugar and fiber options like cucumber, celery, and kale when beginning a juicing regimen.
Does juicing help with constipation?
Yes, juicing fruits and vegetables can be an effective remedy for relieving constipation. The fluids help hydrate the colon, while the nutrients stimulate gut motility. Dark leafy greens, apples, carrots, and celery are good juice ingredients for constipation.
Data Table: Produce Items Highest and Lowest in Potential Laxative Effect
| Highest Laxative Effect | Lowest Laxative Effect |
|---|---|
| Apples | Cucumbers |
| Grapes | Bok choy |
| Prunes | Carrots |
| Oranges | Celery |
| Spinach | Collard greens |
| Beets | Lettuce |
This table lists fruits and vegetables categorized by their potential to cause diarrhea or bowel urgency when juicing. Pay attention to how your body reacts to different produce when getting started with juicing.