Karo Syrup For Constipation

Karo or corn syrup has been used long before by our ancestors to treat constipation to adults and infants as well. Karo syrup draws more water into our colon and makes the stool smooth. The normal activity of our intestine is to remove water from stool when nutrients are being distributed to our body. If our colon will not do this we could be dehydrated and die. But when our stools remains longer in our intestine, our intestine will over extract water from the stool thus keeping it dry and hard and massive.

Karo syrup is most commonly used in children and babies. But you have to make sure that your baby is constipated before giving a karo syrup. It is true that constipation is diagnosed by less frequent movement than normal. However when your baby poops decreases it does not mean that he/she is constipated. Baby’s digestive system is so delicate. Any change in feeding like changing baby’s milk formula or changing the time of feeding can make the baby to have less frequent poops than normal. But in this situation the baby is not really constipated, it’s just that the baby’s body is coping with the changes in feeding time and absorbing new milk formula. Straining of poops can also occur when the baby learns to eat solid foods

Baby’s constipation can be seen in changes in frequency of baby’s poops from soft paste like poops to pasty hard poops. But this can often be relieved by giving the baby more water than milk. Karo syrup will make poops soft and easy to remove but this should be given in a later stage. Water for baby can be enough to cure constipation. In fact aro syrup is not recommended to babies. Yes there is no doubt that karo syrup can cure constipation but to babies this can lead to diarrhea.

Karo syrup contains bacteria spores called Clostridium botulinum. The bacteria may not be harmful to older children from 3 years old onwards and is safe to adults too. Below 3 years old, Clostridium botulinum bacteria can cause diarrhea resulting in electrolyte loss. Karo syrup, though a good remedy for constipation is discouraged to treat constipation among babies. Treatment of babies may vary from age. Lets say from 0 months to 3 months just give 2 to 3 ounce of water. No Karo syrup or any other kinds of laxatives. Just plain water. From 4 months onward, the baby is now starting to eat solid foods. Introduce to baby the foods that are high in fiber. Let the baby eat peas, carrots, prunes, peach, pears, apricot and papaya until constipation is relieved. Do not introduced sweets such as chocolates and other junk foods to babies as this will suppress his appetite and may not want to take in nutritious and fibrous foods.

For adults, in the other hand, Karo syrup is natural and safe. Though karo syrup is not fadt removing constipation compared to other laxatives, but yes karo syrup is also good in treating constipation in a gradual manner. Karo syrup is a natural non-habit forming that relieves constipation in adults and older children only. Karo syrup does not alter the intestinal muscle and does not alter peristalsis movement of our intestine; it is definitely safe to use karo syrup even everyday. But remember only for adults not for babies.