Foods That Help Relieve Constipation

Suffering from constipation can be both painful and embarrassing. The foods you put in your body can be responsible for causing constipation, but they can also help to cure it. The best way to avoid constipation is to eat a healthy and balanced diet, but if you're already feeling poorly, here are some foods that help relieve constipation.

Bananas

Foods high in fiber are the ideal thing to choose if you're feeling constipated. Bananas are an especially good choice because they're also extremely easy for your body to digest. They'll also give you plenty of great nutrients to help you to feel better as soon as possible, including potassium and vitamin C.

Water

Loading up on water rather than juice or soda is crucial to recovering from constipation quickly. Keep a bottle or glass of water around you at all times until you're feeling better. If you don't like plain water, try flavoring it with something simple and natural like lemons.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal works as a natural stool softener so that you don't have to worry about taking medicine or supplements that do the same thing. When choosing an oatmeal, look for one with very little sugar and sodium so that it won't irritate your stomach any further.

Prunes

Prunes are famous for their effects on the bowels, and for good reason. They make a great and healthy natural laxative. You can try munching down on plain prunes. If you don't like the flavor of prunes, try cooking them up in some healthy oatmeal and prune muffins. There's a great recipe for that here.

Carrots

Not only are carrots a fiber rich food- they're also full of antioxidants that will help to flush irritants out of your body as quickly as possible. If you're really craving something to drink besides water, try drinking some fresh carrot juice for a change.

Applesauce

Apples are extremely high in fiber, and eating them in this mashed form means that they'll also work as a great natural stool softener. If you're buying pre-packaged applesauce, look for a natural one that doesn't have any additional sweeteners. It'll taste great and be better for your stomach.

Psyllium Husks

Though psyllium husks aren't as easy to find as some of the other foods on this list, they're one of the very best things to eat if you're feeling constipated. They're pictured above. Look for psyllium husks in the bulk section at your favorite healthy grocery store.