A healthy lifestyle is crucial to preventing constipation. While some conditions may make it difficult to avoid, most cases can be prevented with very little effort. Exercise for at least half an hour each day, even if you're just walking around the neighborhood.

Eat soup or drink hot tea in the morning; warm liquids help cure constipation and so do fiber-rich foods. Keep your kitchen stocked with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and bran cereal. You might also use a mild stool softener like Milk of Magnesia, but for no more than two weeks. That would just worsen your symptoms! Fortunately, when the right measures are taken, constipation can be cured in no time.