Constipation.  We've all been there, and it's a pain. If you haven't been there yet, just wait--eventually your ducts will get clogged, and then you'll know what it feels like to be a stopped-up sink. Usually, constipation is nothing serious. Just--a pain.   As I well know.  I'm not prone to constipation as a rule, but when I was in college, I happened to need to go while taking a final exam.  But I couldn't, because I wanted to finish the test.  So I held it...and by the time I got home, I couldn't because I, well, couldn't.  Things got quite painful, until I called the nurse on duty and spoke to her, and she gave me certain advice, which worked like a charm.  I'm not a doctor by any means, but If you have an acute case of constipation, you may find that what helped me helps you get rid of constipation that's not so much chronic, as sudden and unusual.

What is Constipation?

Constipation is the slowed functioning of the bowels / intestines.  In other words:

• you may have trouble having a bowel movement
• your bowels might have to strain--really go the distance--to do their job, which may also give you hemorrhoids
• your bowel movements might become less frequent--we're talking less than three times a week--or
• you might have pain while doing your business.

Drink a glass of lukewarm water to get rid of constipation naturally, quickly and without fuss. The nurse told me this simple remedy that got rid of my constipation right quick. Water that's cold isn't nearly as effective. Drink lots of room-temperature water and then have a rest on the toilet and see how things go down.

If this doesn't help, try to eat something fatty to get rid of constipation naturally. Fat, though it takes a while to digest, also can stimulate the intestines. Make them good, healthy fats.

Note: Take laxatives to get rid of constipation only as a last resort. But don't take laxatives regularly without checking with your doctor. Long-term laxative use can rebound on you and keep that drain stopped up but good.

Since that time, I did research for the best way to prevent painful constipation from afflicting my poor bowels.  Here's what I learned.

Both to prevent and get rid of constipation, eat the following fiber-rich foods:

• legumes (beans)
  
• whole grains (brown rice, wild rice, whole wheat)
• fruits
• vegetables, and lastly, the truly stellar weapon in any battle against constipation...
• prunes

Furthermore, reduce your intake of (or eliminate from your diet temporarily) the foods that can cause constipation:

• refined grains like white flour and white rice
• dairy, including cheese, milk, yogurt, sour cream, and butter

No pun intended, but "eliminating" these foods at least temporarily from your diet may help you get rid of constipation--naturally, without fuss and without expensive constipation medications or sophisticated remedies.