Natural Laxatives

I have had mild constipation since I was a baby...I eat healthy, lots of veggies, drink lots of liquids, etc. etc.  I'd like to find a good "natural" laxative/help with this problem.  I posted this is Women'Only forum but got no answers.  Anyone have a good suggestion?  Thanks

Kiwifruit, prunes, figs, tomatoes, lettuce, chilli peppers (and other hot spices), oils.... 

Sometimes too much fiber can also cause constipation. I had a similar problem untill someone on this forum told me this. Has worked very well for me!

Coffee...

A good balance of fibre in the diet, first and formost, will help constipation. The recommended average for fibre is somewhere around 30g for men, 25g for women. From the American Heart Association: Dietary fiber intake among adults in the United States averages about 15 grams. The Institute of Medicine recommends consuming 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories you need. (Source Link Here) This can vary from person to person - sometimes, one person may need more than this number - but it is a good minimum. Get a decent balance of insoluble (the fibre that forms bulk and regulates acidity and PH in the gut) and soluble (the fibre that helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol) fibre.

Insoluble fibre:
 -- Whole-wheat pastas, breads, etc
 -- Quinoa
 -- Brown rice
 -- Bran products
 -- Fruit and vegetable skins, such as potato skins, tomato skins, plum/prune skins, apple skins, pear skins
 -- Nuts and seeds, particularly flax, almonds, brazil nuts and walnuts

Soluble fibre:
 -- Oats
 -- Rye
 -- Barley
 -- Potatoes of all varieties
 -- Psyillium husks
 -- Legumes and pulses, especially lentils, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), kidney beans, pinto beans and soybeans

And pretty much all fruits and vegetables. Particularly raspberries, plums, bananas, prunes, apples, pears, blackberries, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels, asparagus, artichokes and dried fruit. It's pretty easy to be getting enough fibre on a healthy diet, but not always of both kinds - and make sure you don't get too much or it can make constipation worse! In turn, never introduce lots more fibre at once - make it gradual, over a few days - and never without drinking enough water to compensate. There are more fibre sources listed here.

In terms of specifics: I have heard strong black coffee recommended generally but it's never really worked for me! Spices do work, too. I know someone who swears by eating a hot curry once a week because she has stomach trouble. Prune juice and prunes are brilliant - my go-to when I get constipated (IBS-C sucks), as well as dried apricots.

Although I have increased fiber intake in my diet, I'm a much happier (regular :) !) girl since adding a bit of metamucil (psyllium husk) to my smoothies. 

With any addition of fiber you also need to be getting plenty of fluids. 

Metamucil also makes a kind of graham cracker cookie if you don't do smoothies and don't want to drink a water mix.  With the cookie you have to drink plenty along with also.

Metamucil is not a laxative - it is psyllium husk fiber which draws water into the intestine and helps things move along. 

spinach or corn seem to work for me

prune juice

I have had the same problem for a long time, and it has been pretty bad, so I've tried all sorts of combos. I also have the healthiest diet possible (whole grains, fish, nuts, fresh fruit and veggies, quinoa and no dairy or sugar) so it is not a nutritional issue. One thing for sure is that fiber laxatives only make it worse--too bulky. I have found that staying away from wheat products, especially refined flour products helps a lot. For bread I use Ezekial sprouted grain bread. It's flourless and very tasty, and the brand has all sorts of products like cereal, pasta, muffins, etc. If I do that and eat about 4 prunes in the morning, I'm good to go. If I need more help, I take about 3-4 tablespoons mineral oil at night (mix it with anything to make it easier to stomach, like juice, soy milk, or even soda). It takes a day or two to kick in, but it definitely gets things moving (there's an over-the-counter liquid product called Kondramul that tastes better, it's just more expensive). Just in case your constipation gives you pain during bowel movements, try using aloe feminine wipes. They are great.

get your oils and fats up... sure to make things moving... tried and true i KNOW it works!

I went through a period where i didn't go....for about a week (maybe a lil longer)...I asked my sis, the health nut, cuz I knew that regular laxatives HURT haah.

She suggested peppermint tea. For some reason (she explained, but I don't think I banked the info) it makes ya go! So if I'm having troubles (have been lately cuz I've been switching foods) I'll drink a glass of that, maybe mix in some of that powder benefiber stuff....

...and if that doesn't help and it's REALLY bad, she gave me an actual natural laxative pill....I'm at work so I don't have the bottle with me, but I'm certain that she got it at either Walgreen's or Walmart just off of their shelves. Of course, if you take the pill, don't mis-use it! LOL

Also, I would try taking Acidophilis on a nightly basis.....it's a pill (can get it at walmart or walgreens) that promotes a healthy digestive system. My sis had also suggested that and I take 1 w a glass of water after dinner....I've noticed an improvement, especially when I remember to take it daily (I'm bad at taking pills).

GOod luck!

coffee is my remedy. also- drinking water when i wake up, before i eat anything seems to help. and exercise, like running.

my uncle said metamucil really helps him, just make sure you drink plenty of water with it.

tried papaya? ITS THE BEST!

hot water with at least 5 teaspoons of lemon jiuce before breakfast always works for me every morning and is a great cleanser at the same time. ive had this problem for so long too an the lemon water works more than anythiing else. have it on an empty stomach too !!