The Best Natural Laxatives for Healthy Bowels

The problem of constipation or irregular bowel movements is quite prevalent. Almost 40% of the population is suffering from these issues in their day-to-day life. So here comes the role of laxatives, which are said to have positive effects on your digestive system. Laxatives can help you in relieving constipation and thereby can promote regular bowel movements. There are many laxative drugs which are available on medical stores very easily but also it is very surprising to know that there exists many natural laxatives that can be as effective as the over-the-counter products for promoting regular bowel movement and prevent constipation.

How do these laxatives work?

Laxatives are the substance which are said to loosen the stool or to stimulate bowel movements. They also accelerate intestinal transit, which helps to speed up the movement of the digestive tract to improve the bowel movement.

Majorly laxatives are often used to treat constipation- a condition which is characterized by infrequent, difficult and sometimes painful bowel movements.Though many doctors also recommend over-the-counter laxatives can be very effective for proper bowel movement and relieving constipation on instant basis.

Although these drugs are said to provide relief from constipation but using them too often can lead to electrolyte disturbances and changes in acid-base balance, which can further become a risk factor of developing heart or kidney damage in longer run. Thus it is better to opt for inexpensive natural laxatives into your daily routine diet as an alternative for over-the-counter products, with minimal side effects.

Here are few of the natural laxatives which can help in better bowel movement-

Flax seeds – Flax seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acid, protein along with good quality of soluble and insoluble fiber. Thus are also listed below the list of natural laxatives which can thereby be effective to relieve one from both constipation and diarrhea. You can dry roast these flax seeds and powder them, to store them in an airtight container. The flax seed powder can be added to your bowl of raita or can also be kneaded along with your dough.

Papaya- Papaya is highly rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C and antioxidant content. It is also rich in zinc, magnesium, potassium and dietary fiber, which aids the digestion within your body and thereby acts as a natural laxative and promotes healthy bowel movements. Take a bowl of fresh papaya early in the morning empty stomach as laxative for your body.

Ghee- All of our grandmothers used to tell us the benefits of ghee in our diet. Ghee basically acts as a lubricant for your intestines and thereby helps in flushing out of toxins which gets accumulated in your bowel. To consume this ghee, Take 1 teaspoon of melted ghee and add it to 1 cup of hot water or hot milk.

Castor oil- Castor oil is basically produced from castor beans. It is one of the oils which have a history of being used as natural laxative from our ancestral time. Castor oil once consumed releases ricinoleic acid, which is a type of unsaturated fatty acid which is basically responsible for its laxative effect. So this , Ricinoleic acid works by activating a specific receptor in our digestive tract which increases the movement of intestinal muscles to induce a bowel movement thereby it was able to alleviate the symptoms of constipation. To consume it, take ½ teaspoon of castor oil and add it to 1 cup of hot water.

Aloe vera- Aloe vera gel is the inner lining of aloe plant’s leaves is also helpful for the treatment for constipation. It has some laxative compounds that draw water into your intestines and stimulate easy movement of the digestive tract, thereby increasing bowel movement frequency.

Coconut water- Coconut water is highly rich in potassium, calcium, vitamin C, Vitamin B and manganese. Coconut water is a clear liquid but it contains a good amount of dietary fiber. Thus consuming 1 glass of fresh coconut water can act as a good laxative and can promote healthy bowel movements. It is also a natural diuretic thus also helps to dilute the urine and thereby increase the urine flow.

Prunes- Prunes are highly rich in fiber thus are known as very good natural laxatives. They contain a type of sugar which is sorbitol and this sorbitol acts as an osmotic agent thereby bringing water into the intestines, which helps in healthy bowel movements.

Over to you:

Hence keeping in mind few of the above tips and include certain food items in your diet can help in healthy bowel movements.