Home Remedies for Constipation

Home Remedies

• A high-fiber diet helps fight constipation. Foods rich in fiber include whole grain breads and cereals, broccoli, unpeeled apples and barley.
  
  
• Psyllium husks are a natural remedy that can be found in flavored powder form and mixed with water or some other beverage.
  
  
• When you increase your fiber intake, increase your water intake as well. You will need more water because fiber absorbs moisture. Aim for a minimum of eight glasses per day. If you cannot tolerate drinking that much water, try flavored water or herbal tea. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which dehydrate the body. The combination of a high fiber diet and plenty of hydration is sometimes all it takes to remedy constipation.
  
  
• Avoid refined foods. This includes white flour, white sugar, packaged meal kits, potato chips, cookies and rice. These foods are usually low in nutritional value but high in sugar and calories, and may even contribute to constipation. Choose whole foods whenever possible, which should be most of the time.
  
  
• Honey, especially the raw kind, is recommended for mild constipation. Take a tablespoon of honey a few times daily. You could also drink honey in warm water. Blackstrap molasses is a more powerful natural laxative than honey, and may work for the more stubborn cases of constipation. You could also combine the two if you like. Some people even add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to the mix. Both honey and molasses are sugary and high in calories; use them every once in awhile and not daily.