Irregular/ infrequent or difficult evacuation of the bowels movements is known as constipation. It can affect anyone but it is more common in childhood and older age. The main cause of constipation is poor eating habits and not chewing your food. There are a number of foods that relieve constipation and they are as follows –
1. Ginger tea helps in regulating bowel movements. It is also a well known home remedy for constipation.
2. Eating Guava (with seeds) provides roughage to the diet and gives relief from constipation.
3. Apples help stimulate the intestine. Eat 2 apples (with peel) every morning on an empty stomach. Bite them rather than slicing.
4. Drink carrot juice at least once daily. It is a well known and tasty remedy, especially for kids.
5. Take balanced natural diet to deal with constipation. This diet consists of unrefined foods such as wholegrain cereals, lentils, bran, sprouts, honey, radish, green leafy vegetables (like spinach, beans, carrot, cabbage etc), fresh and dry fruits, and milk products in the form of butter, ghee and cream. Include five servings of these fruits and vegetables in your diet daily.
6. Soak 5-6 raisins in half a cup of water at night. Eat in the morning with the water. It relieves the constipation.
7. Breads and grains are very helpful in relieving constipation. These grains add more fiber to diet. Applesauce, oatmeal, dried beans and whey make the stool softer.
8. Yogurt is known to be one of the best foods for relieving constipation. It is rich in calcium and is good for the colon. It does not have a binding effect unlike other dairy products. Calcium prevents the excessive growth of cells in the colon lining. It also reduces the chances of cancer development.
9. Water is the best medicine to relieve constipation. If you are increasing water intake, also increase your water intake. Water helps preventing the fiber from getting harder. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water everyday
10. Nuts and grains are good source of essential fatty acids and they are proven to be very good to relieve constipation naturally.
11. Avoid ice creams, chips, cheese, meat, pizza and processed or frozen foods because they lack in fiber and can promote constipation.
12. Include nuts, seeds, cabbage, papaya, bran, sweet potatoes, coconut, black sesame seed, peas, castor oil and herbal supplements in your food because these promote bowel movements.
13. Take wheat instead of rice to prevent constipation.
14. Oranges help in prevent constipation and they are beneficial for colons. Take orange juice daily to clean your bowel system.
15. Raw juice of spinach is very beneficial to prevent and cure chronic constipation.
16. Make bael fruit juice with water and little sugar and take regularly for 2-3 months. Bael is an efficient laxative as it dissolves the wastes of the intestines and flushes them out of the body.
17. Eat foods that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids because our body needs a sufficient amount of “good” fats. These foods are also known for preventing constipation.
