Treating Constipation – Laxatives That Work

Have you noticed that gas and bloating accompany most remedies used for relief of constipation? Laxatives that work naturally and gently on your colon are few but have been studied and shown to be effective. One of these herbal laxatives is glucomannan, derived from Konjac root. This plant has been used in foods in Asian countries for centuries but has also made its way to the Western cuisine as an additive. Its unique property to expand when it absorbs water has made it a popular thickener for foods.

How Does Glucomannan Work?

Most fiber supplements offer constipation relief in one or several of these ways:

• One of the mechanisms by which glucomannan acts as a natural laxative is by increasing the bulk in your stool. Fiber holds moisture which helps increase the contest of the bowel and therefore helps motility. When fibers are incompletely fermented, the weight of the stool is also increased and contributes to better colon motility.
• Fiber fermentation itself contributes to increased transit time. The by-product of soluble fiber fermentation is short chain fatty acids, which feed colon cells and improve colon health.
• Glucomannan is a unique fiber in that it has been shown to feed the healthy bacteria – probiotics – in your colon to fight constipation. Laxatives that contribute to the health of your colon can be used long term to help support its functions. The bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in your gut are thought to be beneficial. Glucomannan has been shown to increase the number of these in the stool.

Relief for Constipation – Laxatives That May Not Be Safe

The main criteria to look for in herbal laxatives is that they are non stimulant. Many herbs are on the market (i.e. senna, cascara segrada, etc.) that claim to be natural. The problem with these herbs is that they contain a chemical that can actually aggravate your colon. The stimulant properties of these chemicals may not be safe for long term use as they have been shown to kill the surface cells of the colon. Blackening of the colon has also been found in some users of these constipation medicines which may be detrimental to the colon.

Constipation Laxatives for Colon Health

Using constipation laxatives that can actually contribute to your colon’s health is the best kind of constipation treatment. You want to ‘teach’ your colon that it should have one or more bowel movements every day. Many doctors claim that disease starts in the colon, and if you are holding extra toxins in the colon due to constipation, laxatives are one of the only solutions. So choose a laxative that is also a ‘multi-vitamin’ for your colon like StayRegular.