Intestinal transit time varies with the kinds of food we eat. The transit time of foods that contain lots of nutrients but only a small amount of fibre can be long and the resultant stool quantity very small. A case in point are solely breastfed infants: the composition of breast milk is usually ideal so that no stool at all for several days may be quite normal.
The more fibre is ingested, the greater the amount of stool. The widely held belief that a bowel movement a day is essential for health is not quite right: Three bowel movements a day may be just as normal as three bowel movements a week.
What is important though is the change that you notice compared to preceding months. Constipation is only diagnosed once you have fewer than three bowel movement per week. There are many different causes, including organic diseases, pregnancy, drinking too little, medication use, lack of exercise and insufficient fibre intake.
Important: Have the cause evaluated first, then support bowel activity. Laxative use should be limited to short-term use. Taken chronically, laxatives can adversely impact the body’s electrolyte and fluid balance.
For short-term constipation relief: LEGAPAS®
- Traditionally used as a laxative.
- For adults and children 12 years old and up.
- Prebiotic effect: Stimulates the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut and the growth of intestinal bifidobacteria.
