One of the most common gastrointestinal problems faced by most of us is constipation. We all have at least once been constipated for whatever reason. If you do not know then a person who has 3 or fewer bowel movements a week is considered constipated. Lack of fiber content in the food, dehydration, excessive intake of calcium, medication and lack of physical activities are the common reasons for constipation.
The most common treatment for constipation is the use of over the counter laxatives but the downside of these laxatives is that when used over a period of time they can make the user dependant on them. This is why natural home remedies are the best for treating constipation without any side effects.
1. Olive oil as a laxative drink- Olive oil can be consumed orally in the form of a drink to loosen up the stools.
• Olive oil with milk- olive oil can be consumed with warm milk to ease out the firm stools. It also lubricates the colon thus making it easy to pass.
• Olive oil with coffee- you can also add olive oil to your coffee.
• Olive oil in juices- if you are lactose intolerant and caffeine does not go well with you then you can take the olive oil with a glass of fresh fruit or vegetable juice.
Mix 1 tbsp. of olive oil with milk, coffee or juice and consume it on an empty stomach before going to bed.
2. Olive oil with fruits- You can also consume olive oil drizzled over fruits. But make sure that you are using fibrous fruits such as apple, pineapple, banana, orange, etc. you can prepare a fruit salad and dress it with olive oil, salt and some black pepper. Make sure to eat it on an empty stomach at night.
3. Olive oil enema- If the above-mentioned remedies do not work for you then you can try the olive oil enema. An enema is a process of injecting an enema solution in your colon to soften the stool and thus initiate a bowel movement. But make sure to take prior permission from your doctor and follow all the necessary precautions.
• Take 1-quart warm filtered water and add 2-tablespoons organic olive oil to it.
• Transfer this concoction to an enema bag and administer the enema.
• Hold the solution for 10 minutes and then evacuate the stool.
An enema is recommended for only severe constipation and should not be used very often.