Olive Oil for Constipation

Last Updated on January 27, 2019 by Marc Seward

Constipation Treatments

Sometimes things get backed up. It’s uncomfortable and can ruin an otherwise good day. The discomfort constipation can have you reaching for laxatives, which can also negatively affect your day if you are not careful.

But there are natural alternatives you can try to treat your constipation. Olive oil for example, not only boosts the flavor or your dinner and offers a wealth of health benefits, but it also can help take care of your constipation as well.

Olive oil works because it encourages the healthy functioning of the colon, gallbladder, and digestive system. It helps ease the comfort of constipation by promoting the movement of stools.

Symptoms of Constipation

If you’re experiencing the discomfort of constipation, you may experience less than three stools a week. People suffering from severe constipation may only experience one stool per week. Some other symptoms of constipation may include:

• Lower abdominal pain
• Straining during a bowel movement
• Small or hard stools
• Anal fissures or rectal bleeding resulting from passing hard stools
• Psychological and bodily distress over having bowel movements

Causes of Constipation

Constipation happens when stool and waste builds up or moves too slowly through the digestive system. This results in the stools becoming hard and dry. Some of the following causes may be responsible for constipation:

• Bowel obstruction
• Anal fissure
• Poor diet
• Consuming too much dairy
• Not getting enough fiber in your diet
• Not getting enough exercise
• Not drinking enough water or fluids
• Consuming alcohol or caffeine
• Taking certain medications
• Certain health conditions, such as IBS, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease
• Pregnancy
• Aging

Olive Oil for Constipation

• The slippery texture of olive oil not only serves as a lubricant for your cooking, but for your digestive system as well. When consumed, olive oil lubricates the digestive system, helping to get things moving and easily pass through the colon. If you consume olive oil regularly, you can help prevent constipation from occurring in the first place.
• Olive oil helps stools slip through the colon because it’s loaded with good fats and monosaturated oils. These two features help speed up the evacuation process.
• Taking olive oil can improve the overall health of your digestive system. Filled with essential fatty acids, omega-3, antioxidants, iron, and vitamins E and K.
• Hard stools may strip the mucus lining of the colon, fortunately olive oil coats the digestive system and protects this lining.
• Olive oil encourages the functioning of the gallbladder, promoting the release of bile, which helps break down and digest fats.
• Olive oil helps to soften the stools, allowing an easier, less painful passage.
• Unlike many laxatives, regular use of olive oil does not result in undesired side effects. Olive oil is an all-natural remedy that helps boost your health.

Tips for Using Olive Oil for Constipation

There are several ways you can use olive oil to help treat your constipation.

Take a Tablespoon of Olive Oil

To get things going take a tablespoon on an empty stomach.

• Take a tablespoon when you first wake up and then take another tablespoon of olive oil right before bed. Make sure that the olive oil you’re taking is 100% pure, extra virgin olive oil.
• Take this remedy until your constipation is cleared up.

Olive Oil and Fiber

Taking olive oil with a fibrous diet is a sure way to get things going and to get the health of your digestive system back on track.

• When starting your day, take a teaspoon of olive oil followed with an orange or apple, which will contribute to your required serving of fiber.
• Try cooking your meals throughout the day with olive oil.
• For dinner, make sure you add fiber-rich vegetables such as broccoli.
• When snacking on fruits and vegetables, drizzle some olive oil on them to help keep you regular.

Mix Olive Oil in Your Drink

One of the easiest ways to quickly consume olive oil is to add it to your coffee or juice.

• In your morning coffee or orange juice, add one tablespoon of olive oil and consume on an empty stomach. This will help give much needed lubrication to your digestive system to ensure easy and pain-free passage. Be careful not to add too much olive oil to your drink.

Olive Oil and Lemon

If you want to add a bit of taste or kick to your olive oil remedy, try taking it with lemon.

• Mix a tablespoon of olive oil with one teaspoon of lemon juice and swallow. You can also just bite into a lemon slice after taking a tablespoon of olive oil if that is preferred. This will not only help alleviate your constipation but will help prevent the stools from drying up in your colon overnight when taken right before bedtime.

Additional Benefits

Unlike laxatives, continued use of olive oil is beneficial to your digestive system.

• Olive oil does not cause the painful cramping taking laxatives do.
• Olive oil is great for digestion and helps boost metabolism and the absorption of food.
• Olive oil helps prevent the development of ulcers.