What are Laxatives? | Best Home Remedies for Bowel Upset

Laxatives are substances that impact digestive health positively. They encourage easy bowel movement, enhance digestion, prevent constipation and promote good gut health.

Laxatives are healthy for the body with no side effects. There are many food sources of laxatives. This article elaborates on the different natural laxatives and how they carry out their functions in the body.

How do Laxatives Work?

The major function of laxatives is the loosening of stool and the enhancement of bowel movement. In addition, they speed up digestion and are always used to treat digestive issues like constipation. Constipation is a condition that comes with painful or uneasy movement of the bowel.

Research has highlighted the different laxatives that exist and the functions they carry out. Some of these laxatives include;

• Bulk-forming laxatives; are laxatives that do not digest but rather absorb water and form stool.
• Lubricant laxatives; are laxatives that keep the intestinal lining in moisture by coating the stool and making it more comfortable for the bowel to free up itself.
• Stool softeners; stool softeners help provide more water to the body so that the stool can absorb the water and get softer, thus, enhancing easy excretion.
• Saline laxatives; attract water from other parts of the body into the intestine to encourage an easy and smooth bowel movement.
• Osmotic type laxatives; are laxatives that are known for the retainment of water in the colon so as to help the stool have an easy passage.
• Stimulant laxatives; stimulate or increase the speed of digestion in order to induce a healthy and smooth bowel movement.

All of these different types of laxatives are geared towards one common goal, which is to ensure the easy movement of the bowel by preventing bowel issues like constipation and encourage the healthy digestion of your foods.

Although, there are a number of over-the-counter laxatives. However, going natural, that is, using natural laxatives, is cheaper and healthier. Asides from their laxative properties, rich sources of laxatives are usually nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables, which are known to have high nutritional profiles and provide the body with numerous other health benefits.

In addition, research has found that the over usage of over-the-counter medications can trigger electrolyte disturbances and disruption of the balancing of acid in the body. Although, these chemical-based laxatives can help reduce constipation and alleviate digestive issues and difficult bowel movements. However, they might cause side effects that can tamper with the very health that you are trying to improve. On the other hand, natural laxatives are different. They come with no side effects and even add more other numerous benefits to your health.

Some of the side effects of the excessive usage of over-the-counter laxatives can trigger damages to vital organs in the body. Some vital organs that can easily get affected as a result of the constant use of over-the-counter laxatives include; the heart and the kidneys. This is why it is best to go for natural laxatives as they are healthy, safe, affordable, with no side effects.

The following are eight natural laxatives;

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are packed with natural fibers, and fibers are known to be the best remedies for the easy movement of the bowel and prevention and treatment of constipation.

The fiber in chia seeds moves around in the intestine without getting digested. They then add bulk to the stool, thus encouraging regularity in your bowel.

According to research, frequent consumption of fiber can help increase the frequency of your stool, soften the stool and encourage the smooth passage of the stool.

Chia seeds have high fiber contents. 28 grams of chia seeds hold 11 grams of fiber. They are made up of 97% insoluble fiber and 3% soluble fiber. Soluble fiber softens stool and ensures easy passage of stool.

Berries

Some kinds of fibers are highly fibrous. This makes berries one of the most dependable natural laxatives in the world.

Strawberries, according to studies, contain 3 grams of fiber per 152 grams of strawberries. Blackberries have 7 grams of fiber per 144 grams of blackberries, blueberries contain 3 grams of fiber per 148 grams of blueberries.

Experts have suggested that consuming 35 grams of fiber daily for men and 25 grams daily for women can add reasonable amounts of bulk to your stool while preventing certain chronic diseases.

Berries have been confirmed to contain two types of fibers, namely soluble and insoluble. The former absorbs water into the gut, which forms a substance that helps the stool become soft. The latter, on the other hand, does not absorb water. Instead, it moves inside the body undigested. Thereby increasing the bulk of your stool, thus, encouraging the easier passage of your stool.

One way to enhance the easy movement of your bowel is by adding berries to your diet.

Legumes

A legume is a group of foods that include lentils, beans, chickpeas, peanuts, and peas. Most lentils contain high fiber contents that can help regularize and regulate your bowel movement.

According to research, 15 grams of fiber is found in every 190 grams of lentils. Chickpeas, on the other hand, have 12 grams of fiber is present in 164 grams of chickpeas.

Regular consumption of lentils can help increase the short-chain fatty acids, also known as butyric acid, which can imitate natural laxatives.

This acid is known to help in the improvement of bowel movement as well as the digestive tract. In addition, butyric acid can act as an anti-inflammation that helps in the reduction of intestinal inflammation that causes severe health conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn’s disease.

Flaxseed

Flaxseed is rich in omega 3 fatty acids. It also contains protein and many other health-beneficial nutrients. Flaxseed is effective as a laxative and also helps in the prevention of conditions like diarrhea and constipation.

People who consume flaxseed regularly will experience a whopping 80% reduction in diarrhea risks.

Just like lentils, flaxseed contains both soluble and insoluble fibers, both of which ensure the bulkiness of your stool. 10 grams of flaxseed contains 1 gram of soluble fiber and 2 grams of insoluble fiber.

Kefir

Kefir is a form of milk but a fermented form. It is rich in healthy probiotics and improves gut health while supplying the body with numerous health benefits. Some of the health gains of kefir are known to include; improvement of digestive health and boosting the immune system.

Research has found that consuming probiotics regularly through supplements or foods can help regularize your stool and speed up digestion. It is also effective in the addition of bulk and moisture to the stool.

When the survey was carried out on 20 people who suffered from constant constipation and also consume kefir regularly, the survey recorded an improvement in the stool frequency and consistency of all the 20 participants.

Castor Oil

This oil is made from castor beans, and it has been proven by experts to be an effective natural laxative. It provides its laxative effect through an acid known as ricinoleic acid, which is released in the body every time castor oil is consumed.

This acid is known to trigger a particular receptor in the digestive tract that induces the easy movement of your bowel.

In addition, castor oil can help improve constipation and constipation symptoms through the softening of stool, improving stool consistency and frequency, and reduction of excessive straining of your muscles when defecating.

Apples

Apples contain high fiber contents. They are packed with a soluble fiber known as pectin, which acts as a laxative. It helps in the promotion and enhancement of digestive health. Eating apples can help in the reduction of constipation risks by encouraging stool frequency and easy bowel movement.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is an age-long oil used by people in the alleviation and treatment of constipation. It lubricates the intestine walls as well as the colon in order to enhance the easy passage of stool. It is also known to improve constipation and its symptoms.

In conclusion, one of the major functions of laxatives to the body is the easing of bowels. Within the easing of the bowel involves the reduction of digestive issues like constipation and diarrhea. Consuming laxative-rich food sources regularly can help prevent severe digestive negative health conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn’s disease.