3 Bedtime Drinks for Constipation

Warm water, prune juice and pear juice are three bedtime drinks to consider for constipation, although none is guaranteed to work overnight. For personalized, nonmedical ideas, try the ai detox recipe generator. You can also explore the best drinks for constipation for options throughout the day.

What are the 3 best bedtime drinks for constipation?

These simple options provide fluid, and the juices also contain sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that can draw water into the bowel. Evidence is limited for using any particular drink specifically at bedtime, so choose one you enjoy rather than expecting an immediate result.

How do you make these bedtime drinks?

Warm water

Water helps keep the body hydrated, which can help prevent stools from becoming hard when you are not drinking enough. There is no good evidence that warm water works better than cool water for constipation, or that drinking it at bedtime produces a bowel movement by morning.

Ingredient

• 240 mL (1 cup) drinking water

Steps

1. Heat the water until comfortably warm, not hot enough to burn your mouth.
2. Pour it into a cup and sip it during the evening.

Plain water is a useful choice if you prefer to avoid juice or find that sweet drinks upset your stomach. Drinking it earlier in the evening may be more comfortable if fluids close to bedtime wake you to urinate.

Prune juice

Prune juice naturally contains sorbitol, which can draw water into the bowel and help soften stool. Evidence is limited for prune juice taken specifically at bedtime, and a response is not guaranteed. Sorbitol can also cause bloating, cramping or diarrhea, especially if a drink does not agree with you.

Ingredient

• 120 mL (1/2 cup) prune juice

Steps

1. Pour the prune juice into a glass or cup.
2. Drink it as it is, or gently warm it if you prefer.

This is a simple serving, not a medically established dose. Check the label if you want to avoid added sugar, and notice how you respond before having more.

Pear juice

Pear juice also contains sorbitol, although the amount can vary between products. Its potential effect comes from that ingredient, not from a demonstrated special benefit of drinking it at bedtime; there is no strong evidence that it will work overnight.

Ingredient

• 120 mL (1/2 cup) pear juice

Steps

1. Pour the pear juice into a glass.
2. Drink it slowly during the evening.

Choose 100% pear juice if available and check the label for added sugar. Like prune juice, it may cause gas or loose stools, so it is reasonable to stop using it if it makes you uncomfortable.

Which drinks should you avoid before bed?

Avoid alcohol as a constipation remedy: it can increase urine production and disrupt sleep. Caffeinated drinks close to bedtime may also interfere with sleep, even if they are part of your usual daytime routine.

Do not rely on stimulant-laxative teas as a nightly fix without medical advice. Fruit juice may also be unsuitable for some people who need to manage their blood sugar.

How much should you drink at bedtime?

Start with one of the recipe servings rather than drinking several options at once. The amounts above are practical portions, not proven doses for constipation; more is not necessarily better and may cause discomfort or disturb sleep.

Consider your fluid intake across the whole day, too. If you have been told to restrict fluids because of kidney disease, heart failure or another condition, follow your clinician’s guidance instead of adding a bedtime drink.

When should you see a doctor?

Seek urgent medical care for severe or worsening abdominal pain, vomiting, a swollen abdomen with inability to pass gas, or substantial rectal bleeding. Contact a clinician about persistent or recurring constipation, blood in your stool, unexplained weight loss or a marked change in bowel habits.

Ask a clinician for advice if you are pregnant, have diabetes or take medicines that may contribute to constipation, such as opioids or iron supplements. Check with a pediatrician before using juice to manage constipation in an infant or child. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without discussing it with the prescribing clinician.