What Everyone Needs To Know About Laxatives And Constipation

How Laxatives Work

Laxatives help move matter through the digestive tract in several different ways. Some laxatives draw water to the stool, making it easier to pass. Other laxatives cause the intestinal muscles to contract, which helps individuals naturally push the matter out. These types of laxatives tend to be most painful as the fecal matter is still hard, yet the digestive muscles are being forced to pass it. Laxative supplements that add bulk to fecal matter are safest to use because they allow the body to naturally eliminate a larger mass, which tends to be easier to move through the intestines.

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