Best Time to Drink Prune Juice for Better Digestion

First thing in the morning, while you have an empty stomach, is typically the best time to drink prune juice to stimulate a bowel movement and relieve constipation. This timing takes advantage of your body’s natural morning digestive reflexes to help move softened stool through your system more efficiently.

Why Mornings and Prune Juice Go Together

For most people, the best time to drink prune juice for constipation may be before the first meal of the day. Drinking it on an empty stomach allows the active compounds to reach the intestines faster.

Waking up and eating or drinking naturally triggers the gastrocolic reflex, which causes the colon to contract.

Drinking prune juice at the same time each morning can also help synchronize your digestive system with 24-hour circadian rhythms and may help with digestive regularity.

How It Supports Your Digestive Rhythm

Prune juice works through a unique mix of sugar alcohols, minerals, and soluble fiber. Together, these compounds help hydrate the colon and keep intestinal muscles moving.

• Sorbitol’s effect: This natural sugar alcohol in prunes acts as an osmotic laxative, drawing water into the large intestine, softening hard stools, and making them easier to pass.
• Phenolic compounds: Neochlorogenic acid, a polyphenol found in prune juice, may help soften stools and support regular bowel movements.
• Soluble fiber: Pectin, a type of soluble fiber in prunes, adds bulk to stool and helps it retain water, promoting smoother passage through the colon.
• Essential electrolytes: Potassium and magnesium in prune juice help keep the muscles of the digestive tract functioning properly.

Effects of Drinking Prune Juice at Night

While drinking prune juice in the evening isn’t dangerous, it can sometimes be counterproductive for sleep and establishing a morning bathroom routine.

• Sleep disruption: If the juice works quickly, fecal urgency (needing to have a bowel movement) may wake you during the night.
• Gas and bloating: Fermentation of sorbitol can lead to gas, which may feel more uncomfortable when you’re lying down.
• Blood sugar spikes: Prune juice is high in natural sugars. Drinking it right before bed may raise blood sugar levels and rev your body up when you want it to be winding down.

Tips for Drinking Prune Juice

Tips for drinking prune juice for constipation include:

• Don’t chill it: Drinking warm prune juice may further stimulate the digestive tract compared to ice-cold juice.
• Be patient: Prune juice is a gentle, osmotic remedy that works gradually as it moves through the digestive tract. Because it isn’t a stimulant laxative, results are rarely immediate.
• Other hydration helps: Drinking enough plain water throughout the day ensures sorbitol has sufficient fluid to draw into the stool.
• Avoid laxative combinations: Combining prune juice with other laxatives or magnesium supplements can irritate the gut, especially in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), potentially causing cramping, diarrhea, or dehydration.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If you find yourself relying on prune juice daily, it may be time to explore the underlying cause of constipation with a healthcare provider. Consider asking your healthcare provider questions such as: