Natural Laxatives To Get Rid Of Constipation

Natural laxatives are foods that improve intestinal transit, preventing constipation and promoting intestinal health, with the advantage that they do not harm the intestinal flora and do not produce addiction, as in the case of some constipation medications sold in pharmacies.

Some of the most commonly used natural laxatives that can be easily included in the diet include fruits such as plum, papaya, orange, fig or strawberry, in addition to some medicinal plants with laxative properties such as senna tea or rhubarb tea, for example, which can be used as infusions or tea. See more laxative tea options.

These natural laxatives can be prepared at home by blending fruits such as plant teas or with water. However, care should be taken with medicinal plants, since having a powerful laxative effect, they can cause side effects such as abdominal cramps and even dehydration, so they should not be used for more than 1 week.

1. Beet juice with orange

Beet juice with orange is rich in fiber, as it promotes bowel movement and eliminates stool.

Ingredients

1/2 raw or cooked sliced beet;

1 glass of natural orange juice.

Method of preparation

Slice the raw or cooked beet and blend together with the orange juice. Drink 250 ml 20 minutes before lunch and dinner for 3 days in a row.

2. Papaya and orange juice

Papaya and orange juice is an excellent source of fiber, besides containing papain which is an enzyme that helps the digestion of food, being a good choice of natural laxative.

Ingredients

1 cup of orange juice;

1 slice of papaya without peel;

3 prunes without peel.

How to prepare

Mix all the ingredients in the blender and drink at breakfast. This juice can be taken at any time of the day, having more effect during the morning.

3. Grape, pear and flaxseed juice

Grape juice with flaxseed helps to fight constipation because it increases the volume of the fecal bolus and works as a lubricant, hydrating the stool and facilitating its elimination.

Ingredients

1 glass of natural juice, prepared without removing the seeds from the grapes;

1 pear with peel cut into pieces;

1 tablespoon of flaxseed.

Method of preparation

Mix all ingredients in a blender and drink immediately. This juice should be taken daily while fasting, but its frequency of consumption should be decreased when the intestine begins to function, taking it on alternate days or 2 times a week. Another option to prepare the juice is to use chia seeds or sunflower seeds instead of flaxseed.

4. Apple juice with olive oil

Apple juice with olive oil is rich in fiber and helps to soften the stool, working as a natural laxative.

Ingredients

1 apple with peel

1/2 glass of water;

Olive oil.

How to prepare

Wash the apples, cut each one into 4 pieces and mix them with water in a blender. In a glass, pour the mixture up to half and fill the other half with olive oil. Mix and drink the whole glass before going to sleep. Use for a maximum of 2 days.

5. Fruit jelly with senna tea

Fruit jam and senna tea is easy to prepare and very effective in combating constipation, being rich in fiber and laxative substances such as sennosides, mucilages and flavonoids that increase bowel movements, being a good choice of natural laxative.

Ingredients

450 g dried plums with peel;

450 g raisins;

450 g figs;

0.5 to 2 g dried senna leaves;

1 cup mastic sugar;

1 cup lemon juice;

250 ml boiling water.

How to prepare

Add the senna leaves into the boiling water and let stand for 5 minutes. Remove the senna leaves and place the tea in a large bowl. Add the prunes, raisins and figs and boil the mixture for 5 minutes. Remove the figs and add the icing sugar and lemon juice. Blend and let cool. Blend everything in the blender so that it becomes a smooth mixture. make a smooth paste. You can consume 1 to 2 tablespoons per day, straight from the spoon or using the jam on toasted bread or add it in hot water and make a drink. If the fruit jam produces very loose or runny stools, you should reduce the recommended amount or consume on alternate days.

Senna tea should not be consumed by pregnant or lactating women, children under 12 years of age and in cases of chronic constipation, intestinal problems such as obstruction or narrowing of the bowels, absence of bowel movements, inflammatory bowel diseases, abdominal pain, hemorrhoids, appendicitis, during the menstrual period, urinary infection or liver, kidney or heart failure. In these cases you can prepare the jam without adding the senna tea.

6. Rhubarb tea jelly

Rhubarb tea jelly with fruits is another good choice of natural laxative, as this is rich in laxative substances such as sennosides and rhein, and fruits have a high fiber content helping to combat constipation.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons rhubarb stalk;

200 g strawberries in pieces;

200 g shelled apple in pieces;

400 g sugar;

1 piece cinnamon;

Juice of half a lemon;

250 ml water.

How to prepare

Add the rhubarb stalk and water in a pot, boil for 10 minutes and remove the rhubarb stalk afterwards. In a bowl, place the strawberries, apples, sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and boil. Add the rhubarb tea and cook slowly, stirring occasionally until a jelly is formed. Remove the cinnamon stick and blend the jelly in a blender. Place in small sterilized glass jars and store in the refrigerator. Eat 1 tablespoon a day or with toasted bread.

Rhubarb should not be used by pregnant women, children under 10 years of age or in cases of abdominal pain or intestinal obstruction. In addition, the consumption of this medicinal plant should be avoided in people taking medications such as digoxin, diuretics, corticosteroids or anticoagulants.

Sample menu to combat constipation

The table below contains a sample menu for 3 days, characterized by being rich in fiber and include natural laxatives to combat constipation:

The amounts included in the menu vary according to age, sex, physical activity and if you have any associated disease or not, so the ideal is to see a nutritionist for a complete evaluation and develop a nutritional plan tailored to your needs. See other foods rich in fiber.

See the video below for other tips that can help relieve constipation:

Natural laxatives for babies

The most natural way to treat constipation in babies, at any age, is to offer water several times throughout the day to keep the body well hydrated and soften the stool. However, after the age of 6 months, laxative foods can also be included in the baby’s diet.

Some of the most common examples include foods such as:

Fruits: pear, plum, peach, apricot, papaya, avocado, fig, watermelon, mango, pineapple;

Legumes: peas, lentils and beans:

Vegetables: zucchini, tomato, cucumber. cabbage, spinach, sweet potato or sweet potato, leafy vegetables;

Cereals: whole wheat bread, oatmeal, brown rice, whole wheat pasta and corn;

Plain yogurt (in infants over 1 year old) or special yogurts for infants from 6 months of age.

Babies need less fiber than adults and should consume only small amounts per day of the foods mentioned above.

Laxative teas with cascara sagrada or senna leaves should be avoided, as they cause irritation of the intestine and may cause excessive colic and discomfort for the baby. Therefore, teas should only be used under pediatrician’s indication.

In addition to food, a series of massages can be performed on the baby’s tummy, not only to relieve colic, but also to stimulate the functioning of the intestine and the transit of stool. See other tips to relieve constipation in babies.