The benefits go beyond the culinary and beauty world, though, and extend into health: This popular monounsaturated fatty oil has been shown to support longevity1, plus lower the risk of heart disease, cholesterol, and obesity2. One benefit you may be less familiar with, though: olive oil to help alleviate constipation. Now, before you write it off, let me explain how it works. One study found that patients undergoing dialysis were able to alleviate constipation by consuming olive oil daily. Another study suggests that when paired with almond oil, olive oil can be used as a softening agent4 to help stool pass more effectively. Additionally, in kids with severe, chronic constipation, olive oil enemas5 may be useful. Because olive oil is not an over-the-counter medication like some other laxatives, there is no standard dosage to keep in mind when using it for constipation. I recommend starting with the general serving size, which is 1 tablespoon per day. You can drink it on its own or incorporate it into your smoothies, coffee, or salad dressings. If you use olive oil in your salad dressing and again to roast your veggies later, it’s possible that you might exceed just 1 tablespoon, and that’s OK. Just try not to eat an excessive amount in one day as it could potentially cause diarrhea or stomach upset (it does help you poop, after all!). What causes another person’s constipation may be different from what’s causing yours, which is why it’s important to work closely with a doctor or gastroenterologist to understand the root of the problem and how to address it appropriately.
