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.

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Natural Ways of Detoxing the Body

Detoxing is becoming more and more popular. From specialized diets to supplements, people are trying all sorts of things to remove toxins from your body. If you're curious about doing a detox but don't want to commit to a regime, you're in luck. There are many foods that have natural detoxing properties that you can add to your diet. Here are a few simple and natural ways of detoxing the body.

Carrots

Loading up on a vegetable that's high in soluble fiber like carrots is a great way to help your body flush out toxins. In addition to this, carrots contain a phytonutrient called falcarinol that promotes colon health as well as several antioxidants.

Watercress

The leaves of watercress have a natural diuretic effect that will helps the foods that your body is digesting move through your system more efficiently. Try using watercress in place of whatever leafy greens you normally use on sandwiches and salads.

Green tea

Not only is green tea chock full of antioxidants- it also contains catechins. Catechins will speed up your body's liver activity so that your body can easily metabolize any harmful toxins. Try starting your day off with a nice hot cup of green tea.

Apples

One of the many reasons that apples are great at fighting off illnesses is because they contain such a high amount of soluble fiber- just one medium apple will provide your body with 4 grams of it. And that's not all that apples have to offer- they've also got one of the highest levels of antioxidant activity in fruits.

Cabbage

Like green tea, cabbage helps your liver to work more effectively, which is crucial to detoxing. Cabbage also is a great source of antioxidants like vitamin C, as well as other great nutrients like fiber, manganese, folate, vitamin B6, potassium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Parsley

Parsley is another great natural diuretic. It is also a very versatile food. Not only can you use it all the ways you would a normal herb, but it also makes a delicious tea. In addition to its diuretic properties, parsley also can help you to detox thanks to the vitamin C and flavonoids it contains.

Blueberries

Anyone looking to detox should be sure to take advantage of a food as rich in antioxidants as blueberries are. And antioxidants aren not all that blueberries have to offer either- they also contain a surprising amount of fibers such as pectin.

Broccoli sprouts

While all broccoli is a wonderful thing for you to eat, broccoli sprouts are particularly good to much on while detoxing. They'll help to stimulate enzymes throughout your body so that eliminating toxins is much easier. They also contain vitamin C.


Peas

Green peas are yet another soluble fiber rich food. Of course, fiber isn't all that green peas have to offer. They're also a terrific source of vitamin C, and will provide your body with many other nutrients as well. A few of these include vitamin K, manganese, and potassium.

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Foods High in Fiber

Right now fiber is the current healthy eating craze, and for good reason: fiber helps the body keep a healthy weight, relieves constipation, and can even help prevent diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Here are a few foods that are a great way to get a little more fiber in your diet.

Pears

In spite of the reputation of prunes, pears are actually one of the top high fiber fruits. Just one pear contains 5 whole grams of fiber. They're also a great source of vitamin C and the free radical fighting power of copper.

Raspberries

These tiny powerhouses make a great high fiber snack- one cup packs 8 grams of fiber. Try munching on them in between meals, or adding a healthy scoop of them over some yogurt or cottage cheese. You could even combine raspberries, pears, and other high fiber fruits like apples, figs, and blueberries to make a tasty fruit salad.

Pistachios

This low calorie nut is chock full of fiber, boasting 3 grams of it per ounce. Pistachios are also full of protein, making it a very filling snack for anyone on a diet. If you'd rather make pistachios a part of your meals, try slicing them up and serving them over a salad.

Lentils

It's the perfect time of year for a lentil soup, and lentils are a perfect way to get some additional fiber. 1 cooked cup has over 15 grams of fiber, making it one of the best single sources for your daily dose. Lentils are also a great source of protein and folic acid.

Artichoke

One medium artichoke has about 10 grams of fiber, and around 60 calories, making it a great plate filler for someone on a diet. It's also jammed full of nutrients- it's a good source of Vitamin C, folate, anti-oxidants, and magnesium. 

Peas

This little green vegetable manages to carry over 8 grams of fiber in just one cup. They're also rich in Vitamin C and Calcium. Since cooking peas can diminish the amount of nutrients they provide, try steaming them instead. 

Brown Rice


Rice is a great meal stretcher for anyone on a food budget, but if you use brown rice, you'll have the added benefit of 3.5 grams of fiber per cup. Brown rice is also a great source of Vitamin B and of Calcium.


Whole Wheat Spaghetti

Switching to whole wheat spaghetti can really boost your fiber intake- 1 cup has over 6 grams of it. Whole wheat also is a great way to keep your heart healthy and your blood pressure low.

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