Natural Home Remedies for Constipation
Foods, Fiber, Exercise, and Water as Treatments
If you suffer from stools that are hard, dry or difficult to pass you suffer from constipation. Before you turn to over the counter or prescription medications that have harmful side effects, consider some natural home remedies for treating your constipation.
Processed Foods and Constipation
The processing of foods is one of the major contributors to constipation. There has been a lot of focus on whole grains lately for good reason. There was a time that all grains, flours, and sugars were used in their natural unprocessed form. Processing of wheat, rice, and sugar into refined white products became common because it tasted better.
Processing Grains and Fiber
In fact, at the beginning of processing these foods only the rich could afford white bread. Whole wheat bread was considered a poor person's food. This occurred despite the fact that processing these foods also involves stripping them of their nutritional value and fiber. Years of eating this way has lead to many health problems including constipation, so there is now a trend to return to whole grains, whole wheat flours, brown rice and brown sugar.
Eating Whole Foods as a Natural Remedy for Constipation
If you frequently suffer from constipation the best natural home remedy is to simply begin eating whole foods that haven't been stripped of their fiber. Whole oats, whole wheat, whole brown rice, brown sugar, whole raw fruits and vegetables will all help combat constipation. Flax seed is a very helpful natural remedy for constipation.
Water: A Natural Remedy for Constipation
Another leading cause of constipation is lack of water. Your body needs water to form a bowel movement that is not hard to pass. A great natural home remedy for constipation is to fill a 2 quart water bottle every morning. By the end of the day, make sure you have drunk all the water. You can drink other things as well but be sure to get enough water. It is important to note that highly caffeinated drinks such as soda and coffee are dehydrating to your body.
Exercise for Constipation
If eating whole grains and drinking plenty of water has not worked to naturally remedy your constipation, consider exercise. Getting out and walking a short distance each day is enough to get your bowels moving. You do not need to take on a heavy exercise program. Just find a way to walk each day. Take the stairs rather than an elevator, walk to the store, go outside instead of watching television.
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