Prunes have a well-deserved reputation as an aid to regularity. Prunes sound more upscale when called dried plums, but their gastrointestinal actions are the same by any name. Around 80 percent of Americans suffer from constipation -- infrequent, painful or hard bowel movements -- at some point in their lives, according to The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Prune juice can help keep bowel movements soft and regular.
Fiber in Prune Juice
One reason why prune juice finds its way onto so many breakfast tables is because of its fiber content, although prune juice contains less fiber than prunes themselves. Fiber, the indigestible part of plants including fruits and vegetables, passes through the digestive tract without breaking down or being absorbed through the intestines. Fiber comes in two forms: soluble and insoluble, each with its own health benefits. Prunes contain both types of fiber, according to the California Dried Plums website. A cup of prune juice provides 2.6 grams of fiber to your diet, which should include 25 to 30 grams per day, according to The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Plums contain 6.1 grams per serving. Fiber, particularly insoluble fiber, draws water into the stool, making it both softer and bulkier. A softer, bulkier stool passes through the intestine more easily as well as more quickly, putting less pressure on the intestinal walls.
Sugar alcohol in prune juice, called sorbitol, might also contribute to softer stools that pass more quickly through the intestinal tract. Sugar alcohol is an incompletely digested sugar that, despite the name, has no intoxicating effects. A 5-ounce serving of prune juice contains 6.6 grams of sorbitol. Sorbitol absorbs into the bloodstream more slowly than glucose, which gives it more time to absorb water from the intestine. This might contribute to the laxative effect of prune juice. Increase prune juice gradually to avoid unpleasant side effects such as gas and bloating; start with 4 ounces per day and adjust as needed. Include 60 to 80 ounces of fluid per day to maintain normal bowel function, The American Society of Colon and Rectal surgeons suggests.
Hemorrhoids are dilated blood vessels that are more likely to form when you strain to produce a bowel movement. This occurs more frequently when you're constipated and have hard, dry stools. As the most common anorectal disorder, hemorrhoids will affect nearly half of all Americans at some point, according to a spring 2007 article in "The Permanente Journal." Prunes, as a high-fiber fruit, are one of the recommended treatments for preventing and improving hemorrhoids.
Prune juice is as or more effective than many over-the-counter treatments recommended for constipation. Around 50 percent of people with constipation are unhappy with their current treatments, according to an April 2011 article published by the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in "Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapy." In an eight-week study that tested the effects of prune juice against psyllium, a bulk-forming soluble laxative, 40 people with chronic constipation had better results with prune juice than with psyllium.
Articles For Your Diet
- Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapy: Randomised Clinical Trial: Dried Plums (Prunes) vs. Psyllium for Constipation
- The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons: Constipation
- USDA Nutrient Database Laboratory: Prune Juice, Canned
- The Permanente Journal: Hemorrhoids: Modern Remedies for an Ancient Disease
- California Dried Plums: Nutritional Composition
- Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition: Chemical Composition and Potential Health Effects of Prunes: A Functional Food?
- Sunsweet: How Much Sorbitol Per Day?
- prune sanguine image by Dominique LUZY from Fotolia.com