Olive Oil for Constipation

Almost each one of us have suffered from constipation at least once in our life. Constipation is a condition in which the frequency of the elimination of feces is reduced to even lesser than thrice a week. The feces are hard, difficult to eliminate and black in color. Ideally, a person should have at least one or two bowel movements per day. Not eliminating the feces on a daily basis, can lead to accumulation of wastes in the body. Accumulated wastes produce such toxins that can have harmful effects on the whole body system.

There are many medicines that are available in the market to treat constipation, but still majority of the people prefer to treat it at home using various home remedies or alternative herbal medicines. The reason behind this is that long term usage of over-the-counter laxatives that are available to treat constipation, can constipate the person even more as they tend to make the person dependent on them. In order to avoid this, people prefer home remedies such as olive oil to relieve constipation. Olive oil for constipation can be quite effective. Here are the benefits of using olive oil, followed by the procedure to use it.

Benefits of Olive Oil for Constipation

If you want to know "does olive oil help constipation", let me tell you that certainly it does. But of course, olive oil alone cannot treat constipation. It has to be complemented with a lot of other lifestyle changes such as a high fiber diet, lots of fluid, regular exercising, etc.

Softens the Feces
In constipation, it is seen that the feces become very hard and hence, the person is not able to eliminate them easily. Regularly taking olive oil propels muscle contractions in the intestines, thereby stimulating the bile flow and thus, softening the feces in the process. Soft feces, unlike the hard ones are easily eliminated and hence, constipation is cured.

Reduces Intestinal Dilation
Olive oil is extremely effective for constipation in babies. It is often seen that babies are not able to eliminate feces easily, resulting in accumulation of stools in the intestines. When this happens, the intestines dilate, causing stomach pain in the babies. Due to this pain, babies hold back feces to avoid the pain. Regularly, massaging olive oil on the baby's stomach, helps in relieving his pain and thus, he is able to eliminate stools.

No Side-effects
Olive oil has no side-effects. Long term usage of medicines can aggravate constipation, but olive oil is a natural oil which is extracted from the fruits of the olive tree, hence, even if it is not able to cure severe cases of constipation, it will not aggravate the situation.

How to use Olive Oil

Cure # 1
When you wake up in the morning, take one tablespoon of pure, extra-virgin, high quality, olive oil. You can continue this for a few days. If you still feel constipated, you may start taking one tablespoon of olive oil, in the evening, one hour before dinner.

Cure # 2
Another way to take olive oil is to eat it with some fiber rich fruit or vegetable, such as, an orange. Take one tablespoon of olive oil in the morning, followed by an orange. Repeat the same in the evening with perhaps a fiber rich vegetable, such as, a broccoli.

Olive oil can be used to relieve mild cases of constipation. As mentioned above, it is not the only remedy, and has to be accompanied by a lot of dietary and lifestyle changes.