These days, constipation has become a common ailment to such an extent that most people consider it an integral part of their life. And nothing other than the modern day lifestyle can be blamed for it. Some of the most common causes of constipation include junk foods, abuse of alcohol, smoking and eating more than required. The people who are affected by the condition feel bloated most of the time and uncomfortable due to their inability to pass stool effortlessly.

The common symptoms of constipation include lack of interest in daily activities, irritability, mood swings, tension and stress along with nausea, abdominal swelling, and unexplained weight changes and in some severe cases, it leads to vomiting. Constipation can be of different types including occasional, chronic and age-related.

Here are 7 effective tips to treat constipation which are easy to follow and give relief.

Altering the diet
This aspect tops the charts when it comes to treating constipation. It is seen that people suffering from chronic constipation tend to eat more greasy foods than usual. Sometimes, constipation is also triggered by a sudden weight-loss diet because the body needs time to adjust to the new food habits. There are certain foods which can contribute to constipation such as processed or high-fat foods, alcohol, and too much caffeine. Thus, you should remove these items from your diet and make sure you include green, leafy vegetables as much as you can.

Consume enough fluids
Days in which you don’t have enough water or fluids can leave you constipated. It is important to note here that the artificially flavored beverages don’t count as healthy fluids since they can actually trigger constipation in place of driving it away. What you can do here is have enough plain water, and if it appears to be extremely boring, you can mix honey, mint leaves or holy basil or ginger to make it interesting. This would work as the most refreshing tip to treat constipation.

Be active and exercise regularly
Did you know that a sedentary lifestyle can make your metabolism slower and this could hinder digestion finally leading to constipation? So all you can do is to get up and get yourself on the move. It is not possible to hit the gym always and so you can take a brisk walk or run for 20 minutes in the morning to give your metabolism the boost it needs. This is among the essential tips to treat constipation.

Take honey and lemon water
This is probably the most important tips to treat constipation where you will just have to take a glassful of warm water and add some lemon juice and a spoonful of honey and have it on an empty stomach every morning. Lemon helps in stimulating the digestive tract and removing the toxins. On the other hand, the honey reduces the sour taste and some experts believe that it works as a mild laxative. All in all, if you are suffering from occasional constipation, this can help in reducing it to a significant extent. You may also replace the honey with a pinch of salt since the latter is rich in magnesium content which helps in improving bowel muscle contraction and also flushing out toxins from the stomach as well as the small intestine.

Grease your intestines
You must be wondering how this could be even closely related to tips to treat constipation. Even though excessive grease in the diet can lead to constipation, you should have some amount of clarified butter or olive oil or castor oil in the diet. These are considered laxatives and are helpful in increasing the bowel movement to a great extent. You must take a spoonful of olive oil or castor oil on an empty stomach and wait for some time to see it work wonders for you.

Fix the fiber intake
It is found that on an average, a woman needs about 25 grams of fiber while a man needs 35 grams of it. For bringing your digestive system back on track, you should ensure that you are getting the right amount of fiber. You must include lots of flaxseeds, chia seeds, lentils and oats along with some green leafy vegetables. Prunes are considered a natural laxative, and you can have the whole or take the juice out for consumption. Raisins help in boosting the bowel movement, and you can have them as much as you want to. Figs and honey can also assist in clearing up the system. Having fiber-rich foods is a sure shot tip to treat constipation.

Intake of baking soda
When the sodium bicarbonate in the baking soda starts reacting with the acids present in the stomach, it generates the production of salt, water, and carbon dioxide. This helps in regulating the bowel movement and cleans up the colon. You will have to take a teaspoon of baking soda and mix it up with a half cup of warm water. This mixture is also effective in treating mild stomach pain and acidity.

These tips to treat constipation should be able to help you within some time but in case it doesn’t prove to be helpful, you must consult an expert to know if you have some serious underlying condition.