In 2024, American adults spent nearly 2 billion dollars on over-the-counter laxatives!
Clearly, we are a nation of people with poop problems. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be such a high demand for laxatives and stool softeners in our society.
But constipation doesn’t happen without a reason. Diet, inactivity, and dehydration are common culprits—but often, the real root is an imbalanced gut microbiota (dysbiosis). Unfortunately, laxatives don’t fix this.
In fact, they can make things even worse:
They disrupt the gut microbiome. The main content of a bowel movement isn’t just fiber. It’s bacteria. If you bulk up on laxatives, and then pass a bowel movement, you still aren’t having the healthy bowel function you need. Rather, you are contributing to the problem.
Laxatives damage the intestinal barrier. This barrier regulates nutrient absorption and prevents bacteria, toxins, and other harmful substances from leaking our of your gut and into your bloodstream.
These OTC drugs can even cause dependency. Over time, your body may refuse to “go” without them, leading to severe cases like institutional bowel, where only an enema works.
So while laxatives might be helpful in the short-term, long-term effects are not favorable to good colon health… or your brain health, either.
🧠A Possible Link Between Laxative Use and Dementia
A 2023 study discovered there may be an association between laxatives and dementia. While more research is needed to prove this conclusively, the results of the research was interesting.
The study used self-reported data from approximately 500,000 adults between the ages of 40 and 69. After about 10 years of follow-up, they found that those who regularly used laxatives appeared to have more than a 51% increased risk of dementia compared to non-users.
And for people who took two or more types of laxatives, that risk increased to 90%.
Keep in mind that the study didn’t show a causal link. Still, the association is strong enough to bring up some serious concerns, and that’s just scary!
💩How to Resolve Constipation Once and For All
If laxatives aren’t the answer to constipation, what is?
Your best bet is to eat more fresh, organic, fiber-rich fruits, vegetables and legumes. Aim for 35 grams of fiber every day… but don’t load up just yet!
If you suddenly introduce too much fiber into your diet, it could give you just the opposite problem: diarrhea. And that will disturb your gut microbiota even further.
So gradually increase the amount of fiber rich beans, sweet potatoes, apricots, berries, greens and other plant-based foods into your diet over the next couple of weeks. This will slowly encourage healthy bowel movements without drastic over-correction.
Also, if you want your bowels to move, you need to move! Physical activity improves transit time in the intestines, which helps relieve constipation.
And please! Don’t dismiss the power of taking a good probiotic. Look for a formula that contains a prebiotic along with lactobacillus, bifidobacteria and other strains of healthy bacteria. The higher the colony count, and the more live strains involved, the better off you’ll be. Just make sure to take it daily with food.
While you’re waiting for the changes to occur with lifestyle improvements, you should be able to stimulate some immediate relief with this little trick:
First, gently massage your colon. It’s located in the lower left quadrant of your abdomen. (Gently move your hand in a circular pattern, in one direction. This will help fire it up for action.)
While you’re massaging your colon, sip on a little warm water. Before long, you should notice “things” moving again.
There are also acupressure points in your hand that can help stimulate bowel movements. Hold your right hand with the meaty side up, and massage the fleshy points below your fingers with your left thumb. Start just below the little right finger and work your way to the thumb. Continue circling for a minute or so. That has been shown to help get bowels moving.
I also recommend investing in something called a “Squatty Potty”.
It’s a stool that you place in front of the toilet to prop your feet on. And it places you in an extremely natural position to poop. (The same way your ancestors did when they squatted outdoors for elimination!)
It straightens out your colon in a way that reduces strain and more fully empties your bowels.
They’re not very expensive. You can pick one up for as little as $24.99 at SquattyPotty.com.
SOURCES:
OTC Sales by Category 2024. ©2025 Consumer Health Products Association.
Vanhaecke T, Bretin O, Poirel M, Tap J. Drinking Water Source and Intake Are Associated with Distinct Gut Microbiota Signatures in US and UK Populations. J Nutr. 2022 Jan 11;152(1):171-182.
Singh RK, Chang HW, Yan D, Lee KM, Ucmak D, Wong K, Abrouk M, Farahnik B, Nakamura M, Zhu TH, Bhutani T, Liao W. Influence of diet on the gut microbiome and implications for human health. J Transl Med. 2017 Apr 8;15(1):73.
Yang Z, Wei C, Li X, Yuan J, Gao X, e al. Association Between Regular Laxative Use and Incident Dementia in UK Biobank Participants. Neurology. Feb 2023.
Li Y, Tong WD, Qian Y. Effect of Physical Activity on the Association Between Dietary Fiber and Constipation: Evidence From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2010. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2021 Jan 30;27(1):97-107.
