Why am I pooping so much on a juice cleanse?
If you’ve ever done a juice cleanse, you’ve likely experienced the frequent trips to the bathroom that often come with it. While juicing is touted for its many potential health benefits, all that extra pooping can seem like an unpleasant side effect.
But is pooping more normal on a juice cleanse? And if so, what causes it? Keep reading to learn the reasons behind the increased bowel movements and whether they’re anything to worry about.
What Happens During a Juice Cleanse
A juice cleanse typically involves consuming nothing but fresh vegetable and fruit juices for a period of 3-5 days. Some cleanses also allow herbal teas. By abstaining from solid foods for a short time, the goal is to give your GI tract a break and “flush” toxins from your system.
When you remove fiber-containing foods from your diet, it impacts your digestion. Fiber gives bulk to stool and helps food and waste move through the intestines. Without it, stools become loose and bowel movements speed up.
Additionally, juices are usually high in water content. Consuming large volumes of fluid softens stools and causes more frequent bathroom visits. Fructose from fruit juices can also have a laxative effect in some people.
Furthermore, ingredients like spinach, kale, beets, and other dark leafy greens contain compounds that stimulate contraction of the colon. This aids elimination.
Number of Bowel Movements Per Day on a Juice Cleanse
There is no “normal” number of daily bowel movements that applies to everyone. According to studies, healthy people poop anywhere between 3 times per week to 3 times per day.
On a juice cleanse, however, you may go much more often. It’s not unusual to poop 4-5 times in one day, even up to 7-8 times for some people. This table compares the average number of bowel movements per day normally versus during a juice cleanse:
| Bowel Movements Per Day | Normal | On a Juice Cleanse |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 3 per week | 3 |
| Average | Once per day | 4-5 times |
| Maximum | 3 times per day | 7-8 times |
As you can see, bowel movements can more than double or even triple on a juice cleanse compared to a normal diet with fiber-containing foods.
Reasons for Increased Bowel Movements on a Juice Cleanse
There are a few main reasons why bowel movements increase on a juice cleanse:
1. Lack of Fiber
Fiber from foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds helps add bulk and moisture to stools. It absorbs water in the colon to keep waste soft, formed and easy to pass.
Juice cleanses remove this fiber-containing solid matter from your diet. Without bulk from fiber, stools become loose and watery. This causes an urgent need to poop.
2. High Fluid Intake
Drinking large volumes of liquid from juices speeds up transit time in the colon. The high fluid content causes water to enter the intestines and softens stools.
One study found that increasing fluid intake by just 1.5 liters per day (about 6 cups) increased bowel movements by 1.5 times per day.
3. Natural Laxatives
Some fruits and vegetables have a laxative effect. Fructose from fruit juices can speed digestion, while juices containing spinach, kale, beet greens and other dark greens provide compounds that stimulate contractions to move stools along.
4. Detoxification
Proponents of juice cleanses believe that flooding your body with nutrients from cold-pressed juices allows your GI tract to eliminate built-up toxins, undigested waste and excess mucus. This cleansing effect may contribute to more frequent bathroom trips.
Color, Texture & Composition of Poop
On a juice cleanse, you can expect your poop to be quite different than normal in terms of color, texture and composition. Some common changes include:
- Pale or yellow color from lack of bile (normally brown)
- Soft or liquid texture instead of formed stools
- Unusual smells from imbalance of gut bacteria
- Increase in mucus
- Undigested food particles like greens
Don’t be alarmed if you see changes like these while juicing. Stool quality should return to normal after resuming a regular diet.
Is Frequent Pooping Harmful?
For most healthy individuals, pooping more often on a short-term juice cleanse is not harmful. However, there are some possible side effects to watch out for:
Dehydration
The large fluid losses from increased bowel movements could potentially lead to dehydration. Be sure to drink plenty of juice, herbal tea and water to stay hydrated.
Electrolyte Imbalance
Related to dehydration, very frequent watery stools can cause you to lose electrolytes like sodium, potassium and chloride. Adding a pinch of Himalayan or Celtic sea salt to your juices can help maintain proper electrolyte balance.
Diarrhea
While loose stools are expected on a cleanse, prolonged diarrhea may be a concern. Diarrhea lasting more than 2-3 days could lead to cramps, bloating and dizziness from dehydration and mineral losses.
If you experience persistent diarrhea, consider modifying your cleanse by including soothing cooked foods like bone broths or boiled potatoes without the skins.
Hemorrhoid Flare-Ups
All that pushing from frequent bowel movements could aggravate existing hemorrhoids. Apply witch hazel pads, sit in a warm Epsom salt bath and keep the anal area clean to prevent pain and itching.
Tips to Reduce Bowel Movements During a Cleanse
If you find yourself running to the toilet way too often, try these constipating tips to firm up stools and regulate BMs on a juice cleanse:
- Drink less juice – Stick to around 4-6 cups spaced throughout the day.
- Avoid laxative juices – Skip prune, pear, apple and beet juices.
- Include banana and papaya – These fruits have constipating effects.
- Add psyllium husk – Start with 1 teaspoon mixed into juice once per day.
- Try smoothies – Blending in avocado, nut butter or protein powder adds fiber and bulk.
- Do coffee enemas – Can reduce urgency and frequency of bowel movements.
When to See a Doctor
You may want to consult your physician if you experience:
- Diarrhea lasting more than 2-3 days
- Blood in stool
- Intense abdominal pain or cramping
- Dizziness, weakness or fever from dehydration
- Inability to have a bowel movement after 3 days without laxatives
Monitoring the duration, frequency, consistency and color of bowel movements can help identify any potentially harmful deviations from normal on a juice cleanse.
The Bottom Line
Having to poop more frequently while juicing is very common. The lack of fiber, fluid overload and ingredients like fruits, greens and vegetables work together to stimulate contractions and speed up “transit time.”
While pooping up to 7-8 times per day may seem excessive, it’s usually not dangerous if you’re staying hydrated. Be sure to listen to your body’s signals and adjust your cleanse as needed.
