Dealing with constipation is no fun. If you've gone for a few days without a bowel movement, you're likely to feel lethargic and irritable, not to mention uncomfortable. Fortunately, consuming at least five servings of fruits and vegetables in your diet every day can help prevent constipation by providing lots of fiber, which binds to water and makes the stool softer and bulkier.

Best Produce for Constipation

Many fruits and vegetables help lubricate your intestines, which in turn makes it easier for waste to be eliminated. Helpful foods include alfalfa sprouts, almonds, apples, apricots, bananas, beets, carrots, cauliflower, honey, okra, peach, pear, pine nuts, prunes, seaweed, spinach, sesame seed oil, walnuts, asparagus, bran from oats, rice, and wheat, cabbage, coconut, figs, papaya, peas, and sweet potatoes.

Calcium for Reducing Colon Cancer Risk

Yogurt is also rich in calcium, which is good for your colon. Unlike other dairy products, yogurt does not have a binding effect, and adding calcium to your diet can help reduce the risk of colon cancer by preventing the growth of excess cells in your colon lining.

Research shows that consuming 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day can reduce your chances of developing colon cancer by 75 percent, so try adding yogurt to your favorite juice for a calcium punch that adds flavor and thickness. Having a healthy colon will also help prevent diarrhea and constipation.

Benefits of Purified Water

Purified water can help relieve constipation, so try using it in your homemade juice to help prevent fiber from hardening and causing blockage in your intestines. Drinking enough water to prevent dehydration will ensure an adequate amount remains in your intestines at all times, so aim for eight eight-ounce glasses (roughly sixty-four ounces) of water every day, including the water you consume in juices and herbal teas.