Last Updated on September 6, 2020 by Nick

Fresh blueberries with water droplets

You poop, I poop…everyone does it. It doesn’t smell nice, it doesn’t look good, and most certainly it doesn’t sound fun. But hey it’s natural…

I bet you felt many times the urge for a sudden bowel movement, and you are like “Wooah what happened there?” Well… often it’s just related to specific foods that you are consuming.

Enter blueberries.

Yes! Blueberries indeed can make you poop, and there’s a great reason for that.

If you are interested in learning why blueberries can make you poop, let’s talk science.

What is Dietary Fiber?

In a non-complex definition dietary fiber is a carbohydrate that is found in the edible parts of plants that are resistant to digestion and absorption in the small intestine.

Furthermore, the dietary fiber can be divided into two groups: soluble and insoluble.

What is Soluble Fiber?

Soluble fiber dissolves in water forming viscous gels. After the viscous gels are formed, they bypass the digestion from the small intestine to the large intestine where they are easily fermented by the microflora.

What is Insoluble Fiber?

Insoluble fibers are not water soluble. Due to their water insolubility, they do not form gels, and their fermentation is limited. Insoluble fiber passes through the colon almost unchanged and helps bulk the stool.

A combination of insoluble and soluble fiber helps to maintain normal function of the digestive tract.

Bottom line, our body can’t digest insoluble fiber, but it can digest soluble fiber. And to keep our digestive system healthy we need both.

Why Do Blueberries Make You Poop?

Blueberries contain dietary soluble fibers that treat and prevent constipation by speeding up the digestion process. The soluble fiber absorbs water and in combination with high beverage intake can make you poop.

Sidenote: Our Recommended Reads

1. Constipation: Kick It Naturally
2. Freedom from Constipation: Natural Remedies for Digestive Health

Why My Poop is Black or Green?

Due to the high concentration of fiber when blueberries intake is increased or not fully digested they can turn the poop black or green.

Blueberries And Constipation?

Although the main definition of constipation is a condition in which there are infrequent bowel movements, for many people could mean different things.

Some people could also be facing hard, or lumpy stool caused by a number of factors, and one of the most common reason is a deficiency of dietary fiber in your diet.

The intake of dietary fiber is important for keeping the digestive system healthy.

Blueberries For Weight Loss And Management System?

A cup of raw blueberries (148g) contains 3.6 g of dietary fibers.

To keep your bowel movements regular or ease constipation, snack on some blueberries (they are also super delicious).

Nutrition fact: A cup of blueberries contains only 84 calories, but they are high in an outstanding variety of nutrients and antioxidants.

The fast clearance of the digestive tract is one of the reasons why many nutritional experts recommend the use of blueberries as weight loss and management system.

You’ll have regular bowel movements, the food absorption is easier, and the glucose spikes aren’t there, so you won’t feel hungry all the time and it won’t affect your appetite.

A word of caution though, if you already have a diet high in fiber, eating too many blueberries might cause unusual green coloring on your stool, stomach ache, discomfort, and even diarrhea.

Do Blueberries Give You Gas And Make You Fart Frequently?

The short answer is, it depends.

High-fiber diet (in particular rich in insoluble fiber) could be just one of the reasons for experiencing frequent gasses. At the top of the list are also fructose, lactose, and starch.

Since blueberries are rich in fiber, consuming much of it can increase the function of intestinal bacteria that break down food resulting in producing gas more frequently.

Another reason could be blueberries intolerance or sensitivity, mainly, the inability of the digestive system to break down the proteins, which could often lead to gas, bloating and diarrhea.

But let’s face it, farts are funny, as long as they are not too frequent ?

The 5 Great Health Benefits Of Blueberries

1. Blueberries Are One Of The Best Natural Antioxidants

Antioxidants protect the cells in the human body from harmful molecules called free radicals which can contribute to cellular destruction.

A study was conducted to compare the antioxidant capacity of three different berry fruits; blackberry, blueberry, and strawberry.

The conclusion was that blueberries had the highest level of proanthocyanidins and anthocyanidins, meaning, they had the most substantial antioxidant capacity.

In fact, according to a different study the blueberries were considered to contain the highest content of anthocyanidins in common fruits and vegetables including flavonoids, phenols, and anthocyanin.

2. Blueberries Can Help Maintain Healthy Levels Of Cholesterol

Recent studies reveal that the antioxidants in blueberries help in protecting the LDL lipoproteins (bad cholesterol) from oxidative damage. Oxidative damage of the LDL lipoproteins can lead to heart disease.

3. Blueberries May Aid In Lowering Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is one of the major causes of heart attacks and stroke. Number of studies confirm that regular intake of blueberries could lower blood pressure.

4. Blueberries Can Improve Cognition And Brain Function

According to experimental six-year study, greater intakes of blueberries were associated with slower rates of cognitive decline.

5. Blueberries Are Superabundant In Many Nutrients

Despite being a phenomenal source of antioxidants, you can count on blueberries to help you meet your daily vitamin requirements.

Just one cup of blueberries will contribute to 24 % of your daily recommended intake of Vitamin C and 25 % of Vitamin K.

The Vitamin C aids in the process of producing collagen which protects the skin from damage by pollution, smoke, and sunlight.

Vitamin K is an essential vitamin that plays an extremely important role in bone and heart health. Also, it has a significant role in maintaining healthy metabolism

Healthy and Super Tasty Ways to Include More Blueberries Into Your Diet

Now that we’ve proven and hopefully convinced you that eating blueberries should be part of your daily diet, here are some different ways of how you can consume them:

• As toppings on meals
• As flavoring for smoothies
• In salads, cereals, and sauces
• In baked goods

But it doesn’t end here. There are so many other creative ways that you can eat and combine blueberries that I can’t even count.

Here’s one blueberry breakfast that you should try it – Blueberry Vanilla Greek Yogurt Granola Bars.

Other Foods That Can Help You Poop?

We’ve already established that dietary fiber is crucial for keeping your bowel movement regular. In case you were wondering what other foods will make you poop, here are just few:

• Strawberries
• Water
• Oatmeal
• Almonds
• Broccoli
• Popcorn
• Ground flaxseed
• Black beans
• Yogurt
• Prunes

Final Words

Now that all the myths about blueberries and pooping are debunked, you should not hold back in making them part of your daily diet. Ensure that you have them regularly, at least a cup daily for a healthy digestive system and to promote regular bowel movements.

To stay healthy and boost your overall health, consider changing your habits and look closely into your diet. You should strive on having a balanced diet, concentrating on good nutrition, and not just looking at single food or problem in isolation.