Treating constipation with olive oil
When stools are hard and dry, they do not move easily through the bowel. This is constipation. Olive oil may be a safe and healthy way to get stools moving again and relieve constipation.
The fats in olive oil can help smooth the insides of the bowel, making it easier for stools to pass. It can also help the stool hold in more water, keeping it softer.
How to use olive oil for constipation
One tablespoon of olive oil, taken on an empty stomach in the morning, may relieve constipation for many healthy adults.
However, people should not take more than one tablespoonful, as this can lead to diarrhea and cramps.
Constipation is common among people who are undergoing dialysis. An older study of 50 people published in the Journal of Renal Nutrition in 2015 found that olive oil, flaxseed oil, and mineral oil were all equally effective at relieving symptoms in this group. The people took 4 milliliters (ml) of olive oil per day.