Everybody poops…but it’s not always a smooth operation. When you get backed up, try something natural to get things moving. My best juice for constipation relief is a great option when you need a little push. The star is the pitaya, otherwise known as dragon fruit. Paired with super-hydrating watermelon, this recipe will have you cleared out in no time!
What’s In This Article?
Causes and Symptoms of Constipation
Constipation happens when the stool remains in the colon for too long, resulting in it becoming dry and hard due to the over-extraction of water. We can get constipated for a myriad of reasons from lifestyle changes to simply not pooping often enough. Here are some of the causes of constipation (1):
- Dehydration
- Being sedentary (lack of exercise/movement)
- Change in routine
- Being overweight or underweight
- Not consuming enough fiber
- Certain medications (opioids, iron supplements, antidepressants, etc.)
- Pregnancy
- Depression, anxiety, and other psychological states
- Not going to the bathroom when you feel the urge
- Lack of privacy when using the toilet
- Certain medical conditions (MS, hypothyroidism, diabetes, etc.)
Constipation is more than having a hard time pooping once in a while. The diagnosis is triggered when someone has three or fewer bowel movements per week (2). Occasional constipation is quite common, but when it becomes chronic, a person’s quality of life can definitely be impacted.
Here are some symptoms of constipation;
- Stool that’s hard and lumpy
- Problems completely emptying your rectum
- Fewer than three stools in a week
- Straining to poop
- Bowels feeling blocked
- Physically having to empty your rectum (pushing on the abdomen or perineal region)
Is Dragon Fruit a Laxative?
I have dragon fruit in whole or juice form pretty regularly and can absolutely attest to the fact that it gets things moving. Dragon fruit (pitaya) serves as a natural laxative due to three key properties.
First, it’s loaded with magnesium. This essential mineral has been used therapeutically as a laxative for nearly 3000 years and is proven to help get stool moving by drawing water into the intestines (3).
Second, it’s packed with soluble fiber – a whopping 5 oz for every 6 oz serving (4)! Being soluble means that all that fiber remains in the juice, giving you the curative benefits fiber brings to the problem of constipation.
Third, this same soluble fiber found in dragon fruit serves as a prebiotic (in the form of oligosaccharides) in the digestive system, helping boost your gut health and possibly preventing future constipation issues (5, 6).
What About Watermelon for Constipation?
Watermelon juice brings with it lots of mineral-loaded liquid, and this means it’s an excellent source of hydration. That hydration helps break up impacted bowel movements to help them get on down the line.
Watermelon also contains a particularly important mineral for constipation relief: potassium. Potassium promotes peristaltic movement of the intestinal walls (7). This action is key to keeping waste moving out and preventing future constipation.
What’s a Great Dragon Fruit Juicer?
I made Smooth Intentions using the Kuvings REVO830 juicer. This is a great dragon fruit juicer that makes so much more!
- Minimal Chopping
- Dual-Feed Produce Hopper
- Makes Smoothies, Nice Cream, and Nut Milk
- Super Quiet Operation
- Ability to Run Non-Stop for 45 Minutes
- 15-Year Warranty
- Can Clog on Pineapple and Soft Fruits
- Doesn't Fit Under Some Cabinets
- Requires Consistent Feeding
The Kuvings REVO830 is designed to make high-quality juice fast. Long-time juicers know that you typically don’t get both fast and good quality juice, but this cold-press juicer makes it happen!
How? Thanks to its ingenious dual-feed produce hopper. One side handles large produce like apples, beets, and citrus while the other takes on longer items like cucumbers, celery, carrots, and even greens. It does this all without the need to chop! Basically, if it fits in either chute, you can juice it without cutting it up. Talk about a time-saver!
This alone makes the REVO830 a great juicer. But guess what? You can do even more than make fantastic juice. Make yourself smoothies, nice cream, nut milk, and sorbets. This machine can do them all!
Additional features that I love are its powerful, upgraded motor that is super quiet while allowing you to run non-stop for up to 45 minutes. It also comes with an astounding 15-year warranty, which is one of the best in the industry. Needless to say, I definitely recommend the Kuvings REVO830 for any home juicer, from casual to serious. It’s one of the main juicers that I use, and I love it!
Here’s The Recipe!
Print
Smooth Intentions
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 48 fl oz 1x
Description
Feeling a bit backed up? Try my best juice for constipation recipe! It couples the super-hydrating power of watermelon with the laxative properties of pitaya (dragon fruit). Get moving and enjoy!
Ingredients
- 6 c Watermelon
- Pitaya (Dragon Fruit)
- 1 Lime
Instructions
- Remove the rind from the watermelon.
- Peel the pitaya (watch out for spines).
- Peel the lime (optional).
- Run the ingredients through your juicer and enjoy!!!
Notes
Pitaya are the fruiting bodies of a cactus plant, and cactus means spines. Usually, those spines have been removed. But sometimes there will be a few fine, hair-like spines left on the skin. So, be mindful when handling them.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Category: Juicing for Health
Keywords: constipation, juicing for constipation, dragon fruit, watermelon, pitaya
More Constipation Juice Recipes
Try some of my other delicious constipation juice recipes to help you get pooping!
- Here’s a delicious juice recipe for constipation that you’re gonna love!
- Get your poop on with this pitaya-packed juice!
- Increase your hydration with this simple watermelon juice recipe.
Post a comment below if you try this recipe. We’d LOVE to hear from you!
