Constipation is a common problem most people experience from time to time, but it can be frustrating when you're unable to find relief.
We've explained that probiotic foods like kefir, kombucha, apple juice, and others are great when it comes to relieving constipation and problems like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), but if you're looking for an all-natural remedy that not only tastes great....
BUT also might help you get rid of your constipation woes as well, there's another contender in town, and it's cherries!
Yep, you heard that right. Cherries aren’t just meant to ice your birthday cake, but they’re a great constipation reliever and help in other bowel movement problems, and hardly anyone talks about it these days.
When it comes to the chemical composition of cherries, they're filled to the brim with entities that promote better digestion, which is a topic we've talked about later in this article.
Though in essence, they're great for stool softening, digestion control, increasing fiber intake, and so much more.
Keep on reading, and learn more about how cherries make you poop, and how you can use them for optimal results for your bowel movements and overall good digestive health!
Table of Contents
Why Do Cherries Make You Poop?
It's true, cherries can help you take care of business in the bathroom. That's because cherries are a natural laxative, meaning they act as a gentle stimulator for your digestive system and can help ease constipation by inducing bowel movements.
It's not just cherries either - other fruits like prunes, peaches, apples, and grapes are all full of fiber to help ensure regularity, as this study from NIH explains- and cherries just happen to be the most potent of them all.
In essence, despite cherries not being anything like those commercially available laxatives, these red-looking fruits have a laxative effect, which gets your bowel movements straightened out.
This is the reason why people, who eat cherries, feel the need to go to the bathroom even after a single serving.
Eating cherries or drinking cherry juice is a great way to aid your digestive health, so feel free to indulge in this sweet treat, embark on the path to relieve constipation, and take those trips to the bathroom that your constipation problem has been starving you of!
How Does It All Happen?
Sure, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But we’ve been missing out on cherries, despite this immaculate bloom of the probiotic industry over the past few years.
As we mentioned before, Cherries have been touted as miracle fruits with plenty of potential health benefits, and showing up more frequently in everything from smoothies to ice cream - but one of those alleged benefits is their tendency to make you poop, and get rid of your digestive issues.
While it might seem like an unusual claim at first glance, it turns out there's solid science explaining why eating cherries can lead to some extra-frequent trips to the bathroom and we've explained various of these science-backed claims down below for you to read through.
They’re High In Fiber
Cherries are a great fruit to include in your diet if you're looking for help with constipation. They contain a high amount of dietary fiber which helps to promote digestive health, including relieving constipation.
Cherries contain both soluble fiber and insoluble fiber, the latter of which binds to water and softens your stools, which promotes easily-removal feces, and getting rid of your constipated phase.
In addition to that, cherries also help slow digestion to make you feel ‘full’ for longer, which further aids in managing your daily calories.
Their digestive action is quite similar to tiny scrubbing brushes that pass through your intestines and help sweep away waste, like a broom cleaning up your house, which makes them a great addition to your breakfast.
Cherries Contain Sorbitol
You might not know this, but fresh cherries can be a powerhouse of nutrients, and it's not just that they're great tasting or anything else. Surprisingly, cherries are an excellent source of sorbitol, a type of sugar alcohol that is quite effective in aiding digestion and getting rid of constipation.
This is especially helpful for those who suffer from chronic constipation or have problems in their bowel movements that just can't seem to calm down, as it helps to move things through your digestive tract and keep everything running smoothly.
A single cup of both sour and sweet cherries contains about 3-4 grams of sorbitol, which is more than enough to get the ball rolling for you.
Cherries Bear High Antioxidant Properties
When it comes to removing symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and constipation, foods and supplements with antioxidant properties are the way to go, and cherries are highly rich in that.
Constipation, especially, is often caused by an obstruction in the digestive tract, and that's where you need an antioxidant to play its key role - reducing the development of bowel problem symptoms.
Though, how you eat your cherries, and the types of cherries you’re eating differ in the antioxidant properties that you want for your constipation.
As an example, tart cherries, tart cherry juice, and sour cherries have the highest level of antioxidants, as compared to sweet cherries, and we recommend going for those when treating constipation
So, Do Cherries Make You Poop?
Though we've been talking about how they can relieve your constipation, and answering the infamous question of 'do cherries make you poop?', we'll say it again to reassure you, in case you're still confused and looking for a more definite answer.
To put it shortly, the answer is a definite yes, and it’s not just our speculation. Studies have indicated that cherries are a natural laxative due to their high fiber and sorbitol content, which helps move food through the digestive tract.
This makes cherries a great snack if your regular bowel movements seem to be slowing down and you're feeling constipated
Though aside from that, there's a lot more to uncover in the health benefits section of cherries that don't just revolve around constipation, and if you keep on reading, we've talked about that as well.
What Happens If You Eat Too Many Cherries
Overeating cherries may seem harmless, but your body can suffer some consequences. When you eat too many cherries, it can go on to irritate the stomach, leading to nausea, cramps, and even diarrhea.
This is because, as we mentioned before, cherries possess a laxative-like effect, and if comedic movies have ever taught us anything, it's that increased amounts of laxatives can lead to diarrhea. In addition to that, since cherries are high in fiber, consuming large amounts of cherries can also lead to other problems, which include bloating, gas, and more.
Besides that, there’s also the risk of getting sugar crashes and fatigue, since cherries are loaded with sugars.
Studies indicate that anything more than the range of 40-75 grams of fiber a day can lead to problems, which is why we recommend practicing moderation when it comes to eating cherries.
Other Benefits Of Consuming Cherries
We’ve explained how cherries can be great when it comes to constipation relief, but that’s not all there is to them.
In fact, beyond the scope of digestive problems, there are a lot of different aspects of your health where cherries play a vital role, which range from improving sleep quality to reducing inflammation, and so much more.
We've explained these points down below in an easy-to-understand way below. Have a read at it, and find out more reasons why you should be eating more cherries.
Great For Post-Workout
Eating cherries and drinking cherry juice is a great way to aid in muscle recovery after an intense workout, and aren't just delicious fruits you eat now and then.
The reason for that is the presence of natural anti-inflammatory compounds in cherries, the ones that can reduce post-workout soreness while helping speed up the muscle recovery process.
Additionally, eating cherries increases your antioxidant intake, which is important for fighting free radicals generated during physical activity to reduce oxidative stress and minimize cellular damage.
So for anyone who takes their workouts seriously, eating cherries after your next workout might help recover from exercise much faster.
Reducing Inflammatory Diseases
Studies show that cherries can reduce the risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or Type 1 diabetes by fighting free radicals in the body. By decreasing inflammation markers like C-reactive protein, eating can help reduce blood pressure and even help protect against stroke or heart attack.
Eating cherries has also been shown to reduce inflammatory bowel disease symptoms, and as mentioned before, they're also a good starting point to reduce the symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).
Therefore, cherries may be an important addition to your recipes and diet plan due to their anti-inflammatory benefits!
Alternatives To Cherries
Cherries are great for constipation, and have a lot of other benefits - but they're not the only fruits or food supplements you should be focusing on when it comes to constipation relief.
In truth, there are a lot of different things you can try, and eating cherries just happen to be one of them.
We’ve listed some other alternatives to cherries that you can use to get your digestive system straightened out, just so you have broader options in case you have a cherry allergy.
Probiotic Supplements
Probiotic supplements are out for grabs in the market, and the intestine-health industry is riper than ever.
There's a probiotic for everything, and seeing as how roughly 10% of the population is riddled with problems like IBS, it's good to have products centered around it.
Cutting it short, if you have a constipation problem, or any digestive problem for that matter, probiotic supplements, such as ours, can help with that.
Filled with healthy probiotic bacteria, these supplements help fight problems like bloating, gas, diarrhea, IBS, IBD, constipation, and many others.
Other Fiber Rich Fruits
Constipation is an uncomfortable yet common frustration that many people face, but before you turn towards medical supplements, try out natural superfoods.
Fiber-rich fruits like prunes and prune juice are a great solution, as they're packed with nutrients that can help keep you regular.
Though if you’re not big on prune juice, there are plenty of other options such as kombucha or other bottled fruit drinks that provide the same benefit, and we’ve made several guides on these high probiotic foods that can help you get rid of constipation.
Bottom Line
We've provided an in-depth insight into how cherries can cure a lot of different digestive problems in the body, the most important, which is usually the problem, is constipation.
Though, make sure to take moderation into perspective when it comes to eating cherries, and know that cherries are, in now way, a substitute for professional, medical help, especially in the case of digestive problems.