This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission. Thanks.
If you’re having constipation issues, smoothies might be the secret weapon.
Do smoothies make you poop? Absolutely. All of the fruit, vegetables, liquid, sugar, and caffeine commonly found in smoothies will definitely help get your digestive system moving.
Whether you’ve been pooping more recently and you’re wondering if smoothies are the cause, or you’re looking to get things moving… I’ve got you covered.
Do Smoothies Make You Poop?
Yes, smoothies do help you poop. Smoothies contain several ingredients that improve digestion. These include fiber, water, natural laxatives, digestive enzymes, probiotics, sugar, and caffeine.
The laxative effect of smoothies can be useful if you are suffering from constipation. And if you’ve noticed that you’ve been pooping more since you started drinking smoothies, the smoothies are likely the cause.
But what if you want to increase or decrease how much smoothies make you poop? The answer is to adjust the ingredients you use to make your smoothie.
To help you find the right balance, let’s consider the six reasons why smoothies make you poop.
6 Reasons Why Smoothies Make You Poop
There are 6 common reasons why smoothies make you poop! There are certain ingredients that are more likely to have a laxative effect or that are loaded with fiber.
1. High fiber content
Smoothies often contain ingredients that are high in fiber. And, as we all know, fiber makes you poop! Blending doesn’t destroy fiber so load up your smoothie!
Popular smoothie ingredients that are high in fiber include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Adjusting the amount of these ingredients in your smoothie will increase or decrease the laxative effect. Using vegetables in your smoothies is the easiest way to get more fiber!
2. Water content
It may be surprising to hear that water makes you poop, but it’s true. Water helps your body to break down foods, which makes your poop softer and prevents constipation.
Making thin smoothies with lots of liquid and drinking lots of water throughout the day can greatly increase the frequency of your bowel movements.
Some people think you can’t make thicker smoothies with water, but you can! Check out our full guide on how to make smoothies with water!
3. Digestive enzymes
Fruits like pineapple and papaya contain digestive enzymes that help your body digest food.
Digestive enzymes are proteins that break down food inside the body, leading to softer stool, more frequent bowel movements, and less constipation.
4. Probiotics
Probiotics are bacteria and yeasts that offer various health benefits, including balancing the bacteria in your stomach and intestines. This can aid digestion and cause you to poop more frequently.
Smoothie ingredients that contain probiotics include yogurt, probiotic protein powder, kefir, kombucha, and apple cider vinegar. Check out our full list of different smoothie liquid bases for a deep dive! Apple cider vinegar helps make you poop as well so if you want another option, give it a try.
5. Sugar content
Sugars stimulate your gut, causing it to release water and electrolytes that increase your bowel movements.
Fruit and fruit juices often make up the bulk of a smoothie, and fruits are generally high in sugar. Too much sugar could overstimulate your gut, leading to diarrhea. If you use natural sweeteners for smoothies this can be less of an issue.
Check out our list of low sugar smoothie recipes if you want some healthier options!
6. Caffeine content
Not all smoothies are high in caffeine, but certain smoothie ingredients will naturally add to your smoothie’s caffeine content. These include coffee, matcha, chocolate, cocoa powder, energy drinks, and protein powders that contain caffeine.
Caffeine causes your body to produce more of certain hormones, such as gastrin and cholecystokinin, which cause your gut to contract and move poop through your system. Too much caffeine can therefore cause diarrhea.
Tips for Making Smoothies that Make you Poop
- Use lots of greens – Using lots of green vegetables in your smoothies is the best way to get lots of fiber! We have a list of kale smoothies and spinach smoothie recipes if you need more ideas.
- Add cold brew – Adding a bit of caffeine is an easy way to make smoothies that help you poop. Cold brew is our favorite way to get caffeine in smoothies.
- Add seeds – Add a tablespoon of flax seeds, chia seeds, or hemp seeds into your next smoothie! It’s an easy way to get more fiber content.
- Avoid dairy – For some people dairy can actually negatively impact digestion! Try one of our dairy free smoothies if this is you.
Common Questions About Whether Smoothies Make You Poop
Yes, smoothies do help bowel movements. Smoothies often contain natural laxatives that stimulate the gut, soften your stool, and cause you to poop more.
Smoothies that contain hard-to-digest fruits and vegetables can cause gas and make you fart. Ingredients that have this effect include mangos, peaches, pears, and baby spinach.
There’s nothing wrong with drinking smoothies every day, as long as you manage your sugar intake. Too much sugar from fruit smoothies can cause diarrhea and elevated blood sugar levels.
Yes, banana smoothies can make you poop more. Bananas are naturally high in fiber, which helps to soften stool and reduce constipation.
Final Verdict: Do Smoothies Make You Poop?
In conclusion, smoothies do often make you poop more.
Almost every type of smoothie will contain sugar from fruits and fruit juice, and fiber from fruit and vegetables. Many smoothies also contain digestive enzymes, probiotics, and caffeine.
If you like you making thinner smoothies, then you are also consuming lots of liquid, which helps to soften your stool and aids digestion.
If you’ve noticed you’ve been pooping more recently – and you’ve also increased your smoothie intake – then smoothies may well be the cause.
Alternatively, if you’re suffering from constipation, you may want to try drinking some smoothies, as their natural laxative effect could be the solution you need to get your bowels moving.
