Constipation, having bowel movements less than 3 times per week, is experienced by everyone at some point during their lives. Although occasional constipation is not cause for alarm, it is important to have regular bowel movements to rid the toxins from your body. If you have dry, hard, infrequent stools that are painful to eliminate, there are steps you can take to cure your constipation. Make sure to read each of these cures of constipation.

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Increase your fiber intake:

Fiber is an important ingredient that should be a part of everyone's diet. For those who experience constipation, extra fiber is needed daily. Fiber is found in most fruits and vegetables. Good sources of vegetable fiber include cabbage, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini and spinach. Eating fruits high in fiber, such as prunes, apples, raspberries and peaches should be added to the diet of those having irregular bowel movements.

Beans and whole-grain cereals are also excellent sources of fiber.

Decreasing your intake of processed foods, meats and cheeses and limiting foods that are high in sugar is important in combating constipation.

Drink plenty of water and cut down on drinks containing caffeine and alcohol.

Natural home remedies

Add a tablespoon of whole flax seed to your cereal, on a fresh leafy salad or sprinkle over fresh fruit. Check in your local health food store for flax see powder if you don't care for whole flax seed. Add one tablespoon of the powder to two cups water; boil for 10 minutes, until it becomes a thicker consistency. Let it cool a few minutes before consuming. You can also add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to the flax seed/water mixture. Drink a cup of this each morning.

Add one tablespoon of honey to 6 ounces of warm water. Have a glass of this each morning.

Eat a handful of raisins after one meal each day or add them to your favorite cereal.

Drinking a mixture of 1/4 cup olive oil with 1/2 cup cold orange juice will usually cure your constipation within 24 hours.

Exercise
Inactivity alone may be the cause of your constipation. If you are unaccustomed to exercise, try going for a short walk each day. If you already engage in a walking routine, try increasing the amount of time to your daily walks. For even better results, drink 8 ounces of water before you begin.

Swimming is another great physical activity for the cure of constipation. Swimming strengthens abdominal muscles. And the stronger the abdominal muscles, the easier the elimination process.

Laxatives as a cure?
While the use of over-the-counter laxatives may be effective, it is not wise to over-use these products. Laxatives can become habit-forming and could in time, cause inflammation to the lining of the intestinal wall. Laxatives can also have adverse effects when combined with certain prescription medications.

When to call your doctor
It is important to consult your doctor when you have blood in your stool, you have lost weight even though you are not dieting, you have been constipated for more than two weeks, if you experience severe pain during bowel movements or if you are pregnant.