Constipation isn’t exactly on the list of popular topics to discuss with your friends yet it’s a common issue that affects everyone at some point. Finding remedies, recipes, and natural avenues to relieve constipation is easier than you might think. Take a look at these constipation remedies to learn how you can address the discomfort without a prescription or over-the-counter medicine.

Food as a Constipation Remedy

Constipation Remedy: Your Food!

• Figs and Prunes: soak in warm water overnight. In the morning drink the juice and mix the fruit into oatmeal or eat alone.
• Pears and Apples: from toddlers to adults, these fruits are effective in relieving constipation issues. Hanna recommended eating two pears or one apple at bedtime. Applesauce is also a helpful food for constipation.
• Flax Seed: flax is not only a great source of Omegas for the body but is also beneficial to our digestive systems by
  assisting in clearing constipation as well as helping to clean and heal the colon. (Learn more about the importance of Omegas and how flax seed plays an important role in your health in a recent blog here).
• Roughage and Fiber: normal bowel function can be promoted by focusing on increasing your intake of leafy green vegetables and high fiber foods. If constipation is a chronic issue for you, consider incorporating greens like kale, spinach, celery, broccoli and lettuce into each meal. High fiber foods like wheat and oat bran (either in breads or cereals) and most beans will assist in keeping you regular as well.

General Rules to Avoid Constipation

• Drink Up: getting plenty of fluids throughout the day is beneficial for the overall healthy function of your body, especially your digestive tract. If constipation is an issue for you, note the amount of fluids you’re drinking. Try to avoid sodas or fruit juices that contain too much sugar and instead focus on water. Our bodies desperately need water to function, be sure you’re giving your system enough; keep a water bottle with you throughout the day to ensure you’re hydrated.
• Eat Slowly: taking time with your meals allows you to enjoy them and can prevent problems in the lower digestive
  

  Water is integral to avoiding constipation.

  tract. As you eat, try to be mindful of chewing your food thoroughly so your body is able to break down your meals effectively.

• Get on Schedule: whether you eat several small meals a day or stick to 3 squares, our systems appreciate a schedule. A midnight snack every now and then is fine but if your body is constantly guessing when or what your next “meal” will be, it puts a kink in the system.

Herbal Remedies for Constipation

• Hanna blended Yellow Dock, Onion, Sage, Wahoo bark, and Rhubarb root to make her Herbal Combination Mover. This product is designed to gently assist with temporary constipation easily; by taking one capsule at bedtime you should experience relief by morning. When combined with a proper diet and hydration, Mover keeps your system functioning so you can avoid the discomfort of constipation. (Please note that Mover is not intended for long-term use.)
• Enzymes and Digestive Enzyme are two additional Herbal Combinations that address your digestive process. These all-natural supplements help keep your system moving without depending on over-or-behind-the-counter aids and encourage your body to produce its own enzymes.

Homeopathic Remedies for Constipation

• For straining during constipation, Alumina
• Constipation during menstrual periods, Graphites
• For the urge to move but being unable to, Nux Vomica
  

  Nux Vomica is a homeopathic remedy for constipation.

While laxatives may promise a quick fix to your constipation issues, keep in mind that there are dangers associated with using them habitually. Laxatives irritate intestinal mucous, particularly those made with phenolphtaleine, and could potentially pose a dependency issue making it nearly impossible to have a movement without them.

Check here to see several products that gently address constipation, including our Bowel Cleanse Kit!