There are scores of advertisements in the media about the use of laxatives to handle constipation, but many people find help for their problem using a few simple guidelines in their diet. Eat 2 servings of vegetables per day and have raw vegetables at least every other day. Use raw vegetables for snacks.
Some tasty vegetables incluce rutabagas, radishes, cabbage, carrots, and celery.
Check your fluid intake. You should be getting at least 8 cups of fluid daily including milk, water, juices, tea, or coffee. Use whole grain breads and cereals rather than more finely ground white breads or highly milled cereals. Examples of such cereals would be bran, shredded wheat, whole grain, oatmeal, and granola. Use baked potato, either sweet or white, rather than mashed potato.