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A travel nurse is sharing her two-ingredient quick fix for blocked bowels, claiming the hot mocktail is the “ultimate poop hack.”
It’s a common requirement for patients to have a successful bowel movement before being discharged from the hospital — an evacuation before exit, if you will.
Aand Brooke Saprito has a trick for when her charges are in trouble that she says works like a charm to kick the digestive process up a notch.
“Can’t discharge a patient without a poo?? All the Miralax and Senna in the world can’t do ya like some prune and butter,” she promised in an Instagram video.
Over footage of her doing “the poop dance” in her scrubs, the health care provider explains, “It’s a skill to make someone poop after 10 days of failed attempts— no one is more excited for your BM than your nurse.”
Brooke broke down the two-ingredient recipe for what she calls the Hot Buttered Prune, which, as the name implies, includes prune juice and butter.
All fruits contain some fiber and can help alleviate constipation, but prunes and plums offer a little something extra.
Prunes and plums contain sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that has been shown to have a proven laxative effect. Some studies have found that prunes may be more effective than fiber supplements such as psyllium.
Brooke recommends heating the fruit juice and butter combo in the microwave to prevent clumps and ensuring the backed-up patient in question is in very close proximity to bathroom facilities.
“I have never seen someone be able to hold it in after this one — never a failed attempt,” she assured.
The comments section on the video have been flooded with Hot Buttered Prune devotees who further extol the benefits of this laxative libation, also known as a Texas Tornado.
“Works every time! Don’t need a doctor’s order for it,” said one.
“Alternative colonoscopy prep,” suggested another.
Indeed, the DIY evacuant is having its viral moment, with Google reporting that searches for “prune juice and butter” have increased by 2,300% worldwide this quarter.
However easy as it may seem or smooth it makes your moves, registered dietitian, nutritionist, and Levity consultant Mei Wan warns that the Hot Buttered Prune can exacerbate digestive issues and disordered eating habits, and mask serious health concerns.
“The idea that warm prune juice and butter can work as a powerful laxative comes from personal experiences, but there’s no strong evidence that combining them makes them more effective, and it’s certainly not a guaranteed solution for constipation,” said Wan.
Occasional constipation is relatively common and can be caused by any number of factors, including:
- Dehydration
- Lack of dietary fiber
- Certain medications, such as opioid painkillers, antacids, antihistamines or antidepressants
- Lack of exercise
Constipation can also result from problems with the muscles that form the pelvic floor at the bottom of your torso, or from any blockage in the colon or rectum.
Health conditions such as pregnancy, multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Parkinson’s disease, an overactive thyroid, or diabetes can also be linked to chronic constipation.
However, according to Wan, DIY laxative treatments like the Hot Buttered Prune “perpetuate the use of home remedies to manage chronic constipation instead of resolving underlying problems in fiber intake, hydration, or gut motility disorders.”
She notes that repeated use of the mocktail can lead to short-term discomfort like diarrhea, gas, and long-term damage to the digestive tract.
Given the explosive rise of health information and misinformation on social media platforms, Wan is concerned that hacks like the Hot Buttered Rum will encourage misuse in vulnerable populations.
“Some individuals are now using it as an easy fix to shed pounds, confusing water loss for fat loss,” she said. “The trend invites the risk of disordered eating behavior, particularly among teenagers and young adults who are more susceptible to viral health misinformation.”
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