Q. Fifty years ago, when I was in my early 20s, I was chronically constipated. I did some research and chose to retrain myself. Each morning for many weeks, I drank a 16-oz glass of warm water (ugh!). Soon, I was having a regular bowel movement at a regular time, early in the day.
I continued with the water for at least 6 months until I was sure I had established a regular habit. Since that time, for 50 years, I have been completely regular, even without the water. As a result, I have never taken a laxative. Please share this natural cure with your readers. It’s easy and has no side effects.
A. We agree that you would have to search hard to find a remedy with a lower risk of side effects than warm water. This remedy was popular with older people in the early 20th century. Some found the warm water first thing in the morning worked even better if they added the juice of half a lemon.
Such a remedy probably works best if a person is also getting adequate fiber through whole grains and vegetables in the diet. But it is certainly worth a try. We offer a number of other approaches to conquering constipation, including a recipe for Power Pudding and another for Pumpkin-Bran Muffins, in our Guide to Constipation.
