Actually, I believe a vet wrote in to this list about a year or two years ago, and said that olive oil (and other vegetable oils) do not function as a laxative. I believe what he said is that they are absorbed by the intestine rather than passing all the way through, so they don't work to "get the system moving". Mineral oil or petroleum jelly (or raisins!) make a better laxative ... Too much laxative, though, and you run the risk of laxative dependency, and possible malabsorption and dehydration, too. - Ela (000)___(000) Ela Heyn / @ @ \ [log in to unmask] | | ======@====== http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5483 [Posted in FML issue 2593]