Yemisi Olowookere, a Nutritionist in Garki Hospital, Abuja, on Tuesday advised Nigerians to consume fibre rich fruits and food to prevent constipation.
Olowookere told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that eating fruits with all of its pulp, instead of drinking fruit juice, aids proper digestion.
According to her, constipation is defined as difficulty in defecation, usually accompanied by expulsion of hard faeces.
She said: “Reduction in defecation to less than three to four times a week is a symptom of constipation.
“You may also have pain while passing stool or may be unable to move the bowel after straining or pushing for more than 10 minutes.
“Plant based foods are the only ones that contain the fibre necessary to move the faeces normally through the intestine.”
Olowookere said laxatives or natural vegetable fibre and other remedies may relieve an acute case but not chronic constipation.
She also added that avoiding constipation requires the learning of good toilet habits from childhood and the physiological need to defecate should not be ignored.
She said that the most common causes of constipation were low-fibre diet, lack of physical activity and not drinking enough water.
Olowookere said stress and travelling could also contribute to constipation or other changes in bowel habits.
She said: “If the body is not properly hydrated, the large intestine extracts water from the faeces.
“This dries the faeces and makes them difficult to expel.
“To avoid constipation, the body requires a proper diet, intake of at least 13 glasses of liquid daily and increased consumption of fibre.
“These are very important tips for preventing and for managing constipation.”
Olowookere listed other causes of constipation to include colon cancer, diseases of the bowel, mental health disorders, pregnancy and the use of certain medications.
NAN.