Q. I want to share with fellow readers a pleasant discovery about an unpleasant subject: constipation. I have tried most conventional remedies for this problem. I eat a high-fiber diet, drink water regularly and take a stool softener every evening before bed.
However, I’ve found that the best remedy is hummus, which is high in fiber no matter what the flavor. Whenever I eat it, either as an appetizer or as part of a meal, I am always pleased with the result the following morning.
A. Perhaps your tasty remedy will also work for others who are troubled with sluggish digestive tracts. As you note, hummus is high in fiber, since it is made of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) along with lemon and tahini (ground sesame). If you use raw veggies such as carrots, celery and bell pepper to scoop up the hummus, you get even more delicious fiber and nutritional power.
If you would like to make your own hummus, Dr. Alan Greene and his wife Cheryl Greene contributed a wonderful recipe for it in our book, Recipes & Remedies From The People’s Pharmacy. They also provided a recipe for baba ganoush that you might also like. As the Greenes point out, these dips are a great way to inspire youngsters to eat their veggies. They are certainly a healthy and yummy way to stay regular.
You can find more suggestions for regularity in our Guide to Constipation, which also includes recipes for Power Pudding and pumpkin-bran muffins.
