Historically, the benefits of olive oil go beyond the culinary and beauty worlds and extend into health.

One medicinal benefit you may be less familiar with is using olive oil to help move the bowels.

Can olive oil help relieve constipation?

Bindiya Gandhi, M.D.

When considering what might immediatelyimprove constipation, olive oil is likely not your laxative of choice.

One study found that patients undergoing dialysis were able toalleviate constipation by consuming olive oil daily3.

I recommend starting with the general serving size, which is 1 tablespoon per day.

Lauren Torrisi-Gorra, M.S., RD

What causes constipation in the first place?

(Curious what your poopsshouldlook like?Check out this primer.)

Consuming 1 tablespoon of olive oil a day may help ease constipation.

Curious for more ideas on how to promote healthy bowels?

Here are15 more foods that can help you poop.