Natural Remedies for Chronic Constipation

Constipation can be an unpleasant experience. Anyone who has ever been plagued by this condition knows about uncomfortable symptoms that accompany it, including bloating, hard stools and (in many cases) cramps. Many people resort to taking laxatives to get temporary relief from constipation, only to have it return. This cycle repeats itself. Instead of laxatives, they can try a number of natural remedies for chronic constipation.

Water

• One of the best natural remedies for chronic constipation is drinking the recommended 8 to 10 oz. of water per day. If the condition is severe, try drinking a little more water and avoid sodas.

Whole Grains and Beans

• Beans and grains are rich in fiber, an important nutrient that combats constipation. Combined with water, fiber runs through the intestines, cleaning this digestive canal of waste.

Fruits and Vegetables

• Like grains and beans, fruits and vegetables contain fiber. Fruits with skin, (like apples) and leafy green vegetables (like romaine and spinach) are rich sources of fiber.

Prune and Apple Juice

• This natural remedy for chronic constipation has been used for generations. Like their fruit counterparts, natural juices contain a lot of fiber, and the fluid helps move waste through the digestive system.

Eliminate Junk Food

• Foods like chips and candy not only contain a number of empty calories and excessive sugar and salt: They do not contain fiber, one of the most important natural remedies for chronic constipation.

Exercise

• Exercises like walking, running and swimming help eliminate constipation via the movement involved. Many yoga stretches, too, work to eliminate waste products from the body. Even doing simple crunches helps rid the body of excess waste.

Coffee

• Drinking a cup of coffee or another hot drink in the morning is a natural remedy for constipation. The body can react to the beverage as little as an hour or two later.