DEC 26, 2017 5:23 PM PST

Laxative Action

WRITTEN BY: Carmen Leitch

It's not uncommon for people to have a tough time in the bathroom. While the majority of people average from one to three bowel movements per day, lots of people also experience constipation. There are a whole lot of different things that can cause us to become constipated, including medication, a lack of exercise, and a poor diet. While lifestyle changes that address any or all of these issues can sometimes fix the problem, it's not always enough.

Laxatives are the solution many people turn to when they are not having a regular movement, or are straining in the bathroom. The most common type of laxative fixes a problem that comes from the diet: not getting enough fiber. These "bulk-formers" are simply big doses of fiber, a general term for plant parts that we can't digest that end up in the foods we eat. There are also other types of laxatives, like stimulant, emollient and osmotic laxatives. Check out the video to learn more about how they work. Get enough fiber in your diet and exercise regularly and hopefully, you won't need to find one for yourself.
About the Author
Bachelor's (BA/BS/Other)
Experienced research scientist and technical expert with authorships on over 30 peer-reviewed publications, traveler to over 70 countries, published photographer and internationally-exhibited painter, volunteer trained in disaster-response, CPR and DV counseling.
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