As a result, the sugars remain in the intestine and keep water with them. The end result is that there is much more water in the stool, keeping it very soft, and causing it to move through the intestine more quickly. In high doses, fiber laxatives often cause bloating and gas. In high enough doses, many foods are very effective laxatives however it is often difficult to eat or drink enough of these foods day in and day out to be effective long-term treatments. In high doses most fruits and juices can be very effective laxatives.
Many people are familiar with using prunes as laxatives.
Much like fiber laxatives, prunes contain complex sugars that are not digested or absorbed in the intestine. As a result, the sugars remain in the intestine and keep water with them. The end result is that there is much more water in the stool, keeping it very soft, and causing it to move through the intestine more quickly. As with fiber laxatives, high doses of prunes often produce bloating and gas. While many parents and physicians are worried about using laxatives in children, most of their concerns are unfounded.