5 Drinks to Relieve Constipation, Per Gut Doctor
Harvard-trained gut doctor Dr Saurabh Sethi names 5 drinks — including coffee, kefir smoothies, and prune juice — that may ease constipation naturally.
A Harvard-trained gastroenterologist has highlighted five everyday drinks that may help ease constipation and support digestive regularity without medication. Dr Saurabh Sethi, speaking to a wide online audience, identified beverages — including coffee, green tea, and kefir-based smoothies — that he claims can stimulate colon activity and improve gut health naturally. His recommendations come at a time when gut microbiome research in the UK and globally is placing increasing focus on diet and drink as first-line tools for digestive wellbeing.
Why This Matters for Gut Health in the UK
Constipation affects a significant proportion of the UK population, with the NHS noting it as one of the most common digestive complaints seen in primary care. Poor dietary fibre intake — a known driver of sluggish bowel habits — remains a persistent issue across the British diet, with most adults consuming well below the recommended 30g of fibre per day set out in the UK Eatwell Guide. Growing UK microbiome research, including work from King's College London's British Gut Project, consistently links a diverse, fibre-rich diet and adequate hydration to healthier gut microbiomes and more regular bowel function.
The Five Drinks Dr Sethi Recommends
According to Dr Sethi's recommendations, caffeinated coffee is cited as one of the most effective options, as caffeine is known to stimulate contractions in the colon, encouraging bowel movement. Green tea is highlighted for similar reasons, with additional antioxidant properties that may benefit gut lining health. Kefir-based berry smoothies feature prominently, combining the probiotic qualities of fermented kefir — which introduces beneficial bacteria to the gut microbiome — with the natural fibre content of fruit. Warm water with lemon and prune juice round out the list, both long-standing folk remedies now supported by emerging evidence around hydration and natural laxative compounds.
What This Means for Your Digestive Wellbeing
For health-conscious adults in the UK looking to improve gut health naturally, these drinks offer accessible, low-cost starting points before turning to over-the-counter laxatives or seeking an NHS referral. Kefir in particular aligns with the gut-brain connection research gaining traction at institutions such as University College London and the University of Reading, where fermented foods are being studied for their broader effects on mood and cognition via the gut-brain axis. Per Dr Sethi's guidance, incorporating even one or two of these drinks daily may support more consistent digestive regularity.
Dr Sethi's recommendations underscore a broader shift in how gut specialists are approaching constipation — prioritising dietary and lifestyle interventions ahead of pharmaceutical ones. For UK readers, these five drinks represent a practical, evidence-informed starting point for supporting the gut microbiome and easing occasional constipation naturally.
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