Following the article about constipation, I’ll like to delve into LAXATIVES . A lot of people abuse laxatives for various reasons like for weight-loss . Other people with eating disorders abuse laxatives to prevent them absorbing the food they’ve eaten especially after binge eating

What are Laxatives?
Laxatives are medicines or substances or agents used to relieve constipation . They help promote bowel movement.

Let’s look at the types available . There are 4 base types :

BULK-FORMING AGENTS
They work by increasing the bulk /weight and water content of poo /stool. Like I mentioned last week , taking laxatives daily isn’t safe , however this class are safe to take daily . They can take 2-3 days to work . Examples are psyllium husk , bran ( in foods and in supplement form ),

STOOL/POO SOFTENERS
They let water enter into poo to soften it . It then makes it easier to pass through intestines . Mineral oil like liquid paraffin , arachis oil which is also known as peanut or groundnut oil , and docusate . They shouldn’t be taken regularly . Why ?
Mineral oil reduces the absorption of fat soluble vitamins A D E and K. Docusate can interact with other drugs to cause toxic reactions and even liver damage

OSMOTIC LAXATIVES
They draw water from the body into the colon . This softens the poo and makes it easier to pass . They are safe to use but if used regularly can lead to dependency. They take 2-3 days to work .Examples are lactulose and macrogol

STIMULANT LAXATIVES
They work by irritating the intestinal wall leading to peristalsis. However if taking continuously can damage the bowels . Examples are castor oil , senna and dulcolax

This gives a picture of all 4 types . The choice you make depends on you . However it’s best to start with a bulk-forming laxative

Not everyone is allowed to take laxatives . People suffering from certain conditions shouldn’t take laxatives . People with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis shouldn’t take them except under a doctors supervision

It’s better to reverse constipation naturally with diet and lifestyle . Changing what you eat makes a great difference . That’s how I resolved mine naturally

Please feel free to drop your comments

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