Feeling like you're having a hard time moving your bowels? If it prevents you from going to a trip to the bathroom at least thrice a week, then you're probably suffering from constipation.
What is Constipation? Constipation occurs when you are having difficulty moving your bowels.
One of the most common causes for this condition is when your colon absorbs too much water from the food that you eat.
It causes your stool to harden which is associated with constipation.
Other causes of this condition include severe dehydration, childbirth and stopping from smoking (nicotine in cigarettes can induce bowel movement).
What You Should Do If You're Constipated The treatment you need depends upon your case of constipation.
However, if you're suffering from a common case of constipation (i.
e.
you're suffering from it not because of medical problems) you can cure it by combining an increased intake of fluids and dietary fiber.
Water is generally enough to help ease constipation.
Add to it a regular consumption of vegetables and your constipation will stop in no time.
Why vegetables? Because they are rich in fiber and fiber helps you move your bowels easily.
How Fiber Helps Relieve Constipation Fiber found in most fruits and vegetables help you form a soft stool which prevents you from getting constipated.
Having a soft stool means you can move your bowels more easily.
So if you're constipated, your best bet to relieve it would be to consume fiber-rich vegetables.
The list below gives you some vegetables that are high in fiber.
A List of Fiber-Rich Vegetables

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Cucumber
• Okra
• Spinach

Raw or Cooked Vegetables? Some sources would tell you that you should consume raw vegetables instead of cooked ones.
According to them, raw vegetables provide more relief to constipation compared to when you cook them.
However, the proof to back up these claims are lacking.
The bottom line is that vegetables are rich in fiber and so you should eat plenty of them if you want to relieve constipation.
Other Benefits of Eating Fiber-Rich Foods If you regularly consume fiber-rich foods, then you're doing your body a favor more than just relieving constipation.
For one, they can prevent you from getting constipated again.
Another thing is that they can have huge benefits on your overall health.
Having a healthy bowel movement cuts your risk of suffering from colon cancer.
Also, a fiber-rich diet can reduce your risk of having heart problems.
And for weight watchers, fiber makes you feel full longer which wards off temptations that would make you want to eat more.
What Should You Do If Vegetables Don't Work? If you notice that you're still constipated despite eating a lot of vegetables and drinking lots of fluids, then you should see your doctor.
He or she may recommend you to take in laxatives if fiber from vegetables don't work.
In worst cases, an enema may be used if vegetables and laxatives prove ineffective.