A viral video claims to cure constipation with oranges.Photo:lilsipper/Instagram
lilsipper/Instagram
A viral video is claiming that eating an entire orange — including the peel — can immediately cureconstipation.
The idea comes from Instagrammer@Lilsipper’s 2022 video, which has recently gone viral. In it, she claims that coating naval orange slices with cinnamon and cayenne pepper — and eating the entire thing, including the well-washed peel — can cure constipation “in about five minutes.”
The woman behind theInstagramaccount, Bethany, shares low-sugar recipes for those suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which can cause constipation, theMayo Clinicsays.
In the caption for her video — which has more than 400,000 likes — Bethany explains that “Oranges contain naringenin, a flavonoid shown to help with constipation.”
And as for the spices, she says “Cayenne pepper and cinnamon contain capsaicin, which trigger your TRVP1 receptors (located in your mouth and also throughout your body and GI tract) and stimulate your GI tract—making things move through quite fast!”
But is this true, or is it pulp fiction?
“The fiber in orange peels isn’t anything special compared to other fibers,” Amy Brownstein, MS, RD, a registered dietitian and owner of Nutrition Digested, toldHealth.
And it’s certainly not going to work immediately, according to Danielle VenHuizen, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian and owner of Food Sense Nutrition. “For a person prone to constipation, there is no way that eating a high-fiber food is going to produce immediate effects,” she toldHealth. “That’s just not how fiber works.”
She added that studies showing naringenin’s impact on bowel movements have only been done on mice and rats, not humans, as aNational Library of Medicinestudy shows.
And while cinnamon and cayenne pepper may get things moving, they could cause more discomfort than relief, VenHuizen told the outlet.
Oranges.Richard Newstead/Getty
Richard Newstead/Getty
When it comes to eating the orange peel, it’s generally safe (although bitter); but experts caution about potential chemicals on the surface of the fruit.
“Pesticidesare of concern when eating oranges,” Brownstein toldHealth. “If you choose to eat orange peels, thoroughly wash the peel and consume occasionally.”
If you’re constipated — which theMayo Clinicdescribes as having three or fewer bowel movements a week — you should eat ahigh-fiber diet,which does include fruits, as well vegetables, beans, and whole-grain bread.
You should also stay hydrated — and avoid caffeinated beverages.
But if you’ve got blood in your stool, stomach pain, and remain constipated for longer than three weeks, the Mayo Clinic recommends you reach out to a doctor for further testing.
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source: people.com
