Aside from being a tasty and refreshing drink, grape juice has many other benefits. It is rich in antioxidants and minerals and consists of multiple vitamins like vitamin C and K and dietary fiber, all of which are great for improving bowel movements and easing digestive issues.
So, if you suddenly have the urge to poop after drinking grape juice, you now know the reason.
Grape juice is a staple in many diets, but excessive use leads to diarrhea. Thus, you need to be informed about its properties and how it helps ease constipation and other digestive issues.
This will ensure that you consume only the right amount.
This article will discuss the effects of this delicious purple juice on your digestive system, liver, and bowels and answer the question, “does grape juice make you poop?”
So without further ado, let’s get started!
Can Grape Juice Help With Constipation?
Constipation is a common digestive issue. It occurs when bowel movements become less frequent, and it becomes difficult to pass stool.
Constipation can happen to people of all ages and is easily resolved, although certain ages and situations can lead to chronic constipation, such as pregnancy, after childbirth, digestive disorders, old age, and certain medications.
The most common cause of constipation is lack of fiber and dehydration.
Grape juice consists of dietary fiber and high water content that can soothe the intestines and help you defecate.
It provides a laxative effect if consumed in large quantities. The high amount of sugar, water, and fiber in grape juice softens the stool and regulates bowel movements.
How Does Grape Juice Make You Poop?
Now that you know that grape juice is a powerhouse of nutrients and helps relieve constipation, you must be wondering how grape juice makes you poop.
What is its unique content profile that helps strengthen the immune system and lower the risk and symptoms of digestive issues?
The following are the ingredients found in grape juice in abundance that promote its laxative properties.
Fiber
Dietary fibers are edible parts of plants, non-digestible carbohydrates, and travel undigested throughout the body. Fiber is available in all plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, seeds, etc. Fiber helps control appetite and blood sugar levels and is considered a must when facing constipation and other intestinal problems.
There are two types of dietary fibers: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber helps you draw nutrition from food and slows down digestion.
On the other hand, insoluble fiber absorbs water and adds bulk to your stool, making it easier to poop. In 30 red grapes, you can find 0.8 grams of insoluble fiber and 0.5 grams of soluble fiber.
Grape juice is rich in insoluble fiber, so you can regulate your bowel movements and prevent constipation. Moreover, grape juice is added to diet plans as the soluble fiber helps you feel fuller.
It’s best to maintain a balance, no matter why you are drinking grape juice.
Sorbitol
The reason why grapes have a laxative behavior is because of the presence of sorbitol. Sorbitol is a carbohydrate type that falls in the sugar alcohol category, called polyols. It is naturally found in fruits like grapes, apples, plums, dates, peaches, etc.
A study for the 39th World Congress Of Vine And Wine revealed that red grapes contain more sorbitol than white grapes. (1) Sorbitol is commercially used to preserve moisture, add texture, and support digestive and oral health.
Sorbitol can help prevent constipation as it is not fully digested and is hyperosmotic; it draws water into the stomach and colon from surrounding tissues and helps regulate bowel movements. (2) It is a natural laxative that is found in grape juice and thus used as a stool softener.
Water
As mentioned above, dehydration is one of the most common causes of constipation. One of the simplest ways to treat chronic constipation is to drink plenty of water.
Water is important for digestion, keeps the food moving through the intestines, and makes your intestines smooth and flexible, making your stool softer and easier to pass.
If you are dehydrated, the large intestine soaks up water from the food waste, leaving your stool hard, lumpy, and difficult to pass. Luckily, grape juice is made up of 85% water content.
According to WebMD, 8 glasses of water per day is necessary to keep your body hydrated. (3) Thus, integrate grape juice into your diet or consult your doctor for a proper treatment plan.
Malic Acid
Another ingredient in grape juice that helps you poop is malic acid. Malic acid is naturally found in apples, pears, and other fruits and vegetables and is commonly used in skincare products.
It is sour and acidic and contributes to the acidic taste of grapes. Malic acid has multiple benefits, such as stabilizing the stomach acid and improving digestion.
Moreover, malic acid prevents calcium from binding with other substances in urine that form kidney stones. It also removes gallstones from the gallbladder and toxins from the liver through regular bowel movements. At harvest time, over 90% of grape acidity is due to malic and tartaric acid. (4)
Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral found in the body to maintain the functioning of the heart, kidneys, and muscles.
Magnesium helps increase the intestines’ water content, which helps regulate bowel movements. It is an osmotic laxative and is often used to relieve constipation pain. The maximum dose of magnesium is 2 grams a day, and there is 5 mg of magnesium for every 100 grams of grapes.
This is one of the reasons you shouldn’t have too much grape juice.
Fructose
Fructose is natural sugar in fresh fruits like apples, grapes, and peaches.
In fact, every 100 grams of grape juice consists of 8.1 grams of fructose. Too much sugar is not ideal for your body but sugar isn’t as bad as people have made it. A positive effect of consuming sugar is that it helps you poop.
People with IBS and other digestive issues consume sugar to relieve themselves of discomfort, pain, and other symptoms. However, remember, too much sugar can lead to diarrhea.
Can Grape Juice Give You Diarrhea?
Another commonly asked question regarding grape juice is, can grape juice give you diarrhea? As mentioned above, grape juice is high in water, fiber, and sugars, all of which can be troublesome if you don’t suffer from constipation.
Excessive consumption of high sugar content helps regulate your bowels, and if you’re not constipated, it leads to diarrhea. (5)
So, if you experience discomfort, diarrhea, or other gastrointestinal problems after having grape juice, immediately lower its consumption and replace it with a solid food item and seek for advice from doctor.
How To Make Grape Juice At Home
If you want to reap the benefits of grape juice, follow the instructions below and learn how to make grape juice at home.
What You Will Need:
- White or red grapes
- Black salt
- ½ inch ginger
- ½ cup water (you can increase the amount depending on how you prefer it)
What To Do
- Fill a bowl halfway with water and rinse the grapes in them
- De-stem the grapes and remove any old and shriveled pieces.
- Put the grapes, water, black salt, and ginger into the juicer and pour it into a glass. There is no need to strain it.
- Another method involves cooking the grapes. After rinsing and de-stemming, mix the grapes in a large cooking pot and simmer them over medium heat for 10 minutes. Ladle the mixture through a fine cheesecloth and wait until all the juice has strained. You can store the strained juice and dilute it when you want to have grape juice.
How much grape juice should you consume to relieve constipation pain? According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), as little as half a cup of grape juice can help relieve constipation pain. (6)
FAQs
Is grape juice a natural laxative?
Answer – Yes, grape juice is a natural laxative because it contains sorbitol. However, the amount is significantly less than what you would find in other juices, such as apple, pear, or lemon juice.
Increasing your grape juice intake can help you stay hydrated and relieve constipation pain.
Does grape juice change poop color?
Answer – Yes, grape juice can slightly alter the color of your poop, especially if you are consuming large quantities of grape juice to regulate bowel movements.
You will notice a darker tint in your stool’s color.
In Conclusion
Grape juice not only regulates bowel movements but also strengthens your immune system and improves your gut health.
However, beware of processed grape juice. It contains high amounts of sugar, preservatives, and added flavors that lead to diarrhea and other digestive issues.
We hope this article helped answer your, “does grape juice make you poop?” question.
Go natural and stay healthy!
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