Foods that Help with Bowel Incontinence

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Bowel incontinence is a common old-age problem. Let us look at some foods that help with bowel incontinence prevention.

Bowel incontinence is the inadvertent leak of stools with or without the knowledge of the patient. Sometimes there is leakage of stools while passing gas. 8.3% of noninstitutionalized adults are known to have fecal or bowel incontinence

Gastroenterologists can assist in treating bowel incontinence. Occasionally stool leaks even though there is no passing of gas. The stool is passed in four ways that are liquid stool, solid stool, gas, and mucus. The severity of the problem is measured by the number of instances of fecal incontinence that occurs to the person. 

Foods that Help with Bowel Incontinence

Fecal incontinence may happen during extreme diarrhea or constipation, and it could also be a result of nerve damage, and neurological disorders. It is more common in older adults.

Some foods can help to cure bowel incontinence or lower the number of instances. Today, we will explore more about the foods that help you overcome fecal incontinence. 

What are the Risk Factors of Fecal Incontinence?

  • Physical disability: A person who is physically disabled is known to suffer from fecal incontinence. It may become hard for a person to reach the washroom each time being affected by the injuries that may cause rectal leakage.
  • Being female: Childbirth may lead to fecal incontinence in women. Women who go for menopausal hormone replacement therapy are known to suffer from an increased risk of fecal incontinence.
  • Dementia: People who have late-stage Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are more likely to suffer from fecal incontinence.
  • Age: Fecal incontinence can happen at any age. But a person is more likely to suffer from fecal incontinence over the age of 65. 
  • Nerve damage: People who have multiple sclerosis, back trauma due to surgery or an injury, long-standing diabetes are at a higher risk of fecal incontinence. Being affected by these conditions can damage the nerves, which are known to control defecation. 

Which Foods Help To Overcome Bowel Incontinence? 

You need to understand the underlying cause of incontinence. If it is caused by constipation or diarrhea, you need to consume foods that strengthen the digestive process and make the stool thicker. 

Therefore, the objective of dietary intervention should be to avoid foods that make your stool more liquid (coffee, liquids, sugary drinks etc) and to include foods that make your stool more solid (such as foods rich in dietary fiber). Another way to overcome bowel incontinence is to exercise regularly. 

Foods that Help with Bowel Incontinence

Nuts and seeds: 

Nuts and seeds are an excellent way to fulfill your daily fiber requirement. You should consume at least 25 to 30 grams of fiber every day. You can include various nuts and seeds like peanuts, Pine nuts, pistachios, hazelnuts. They can eat different seeds like sunflower seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, poppy seeds, and sesame seeds. 

These nuts and seeds are not only rich in fiber but also consist of essential nutrients. Chia seeds are an excellent way to overcome nutritional deficiencies in the body. 

It is a power pack of various nutrients. You can eat a fist full of these nuts and seeds or sprinkle them on your smoothies. You can also use them to garnish your salads or as a seasoning. 

Eat more legumes(beans): 

Beans and legumes should be included daily in your diet. You can try eating different legumes each day. They are healthy and fulfill our protein, fiber, and other essential nutrients. Eating more beans and legumes adds fiber to your diet. 

This prevents fecal incontinence. You can add legumes like chickpeas, haricot beans, lentils, lima beans, kidney beans, mung beans, soybeans, split peas, borlotti beans, Black-eyed beans, butter beans, and cannellini beans.

Foods cooked out of these beans are healthy and fibrous. One famous middle eastern cuisine cooked out of chickpeas named hummus is rich in fiber. It will help you overcome bowel incontinence and promote gut health. 

Foods that Help with Bowel Incontinence

Try to eat more cereal-based foods:

Cereal-based foods are not only rich in fiber but also act to be fulfilling for the body. You can use them in your breakfast or add a small portion to lunch. You can include cereal-based foods like wholegrain foods like flatbread or bread rolls.

You can consist of high fiber-rich cereals in your breakfast like oat cereals, bran cereals, and natural muesli. 

It will prevent fecal incontinence, and consuming a healthy amount of cereals will help you overcome fecal incontinence. Brown rice, brown pasta, or wild rice are suitable to fulfill daily fiber intake.

You can also include whole wheat, spelt, semolina, sorghum, millet, oats, quinoa, rye, rice, burghal, barley, buckwheat, chia, and corn. Try to increase your fiber intake slowly to avoid any bloating, cramps, and gas problems. 

Try to add more fluids: 

Fluids and fiber work together to keep our bowels clean and regular. Our body must consist of enough fluid as eating only fiber can lead to constipation. It is imperative to keep your body hydrated. You can drink plenty of water and add other fluids like smoothies and buttermilk. 

Make sure you don’t include soft drinks, energy drinks as they can lead to thickening of stool. These drinks are also acidic, resulting in the breakdown of essential coverage of the teeth named enamel. It will help you to overcome fecal incontinence. Make sure you drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water. 

Foods that Help with Bowel Incontinence

Cut down tea and coffee: 

People should try to avoid tea and coffee if they suffer from fecal incontinence. Coffee is known to have a laxative effect on the body. Thus people should avoid it. If you are an avid coffee consumer, you can limit coffee consumption. 

Tea and coffee also increase bowel and colonic activity, which leads to fecal incontinence. Alcohol is also known to enhance fecal incontinence. Try to avoid it.

Add more servings of fruits and vegetables to your diet:

Fruits and vegetables are healthy and nutritious. You can consume both cooked and raw vegetables in your diet. Vegetables are a good source of fiber and can prevent fecal incontinence. Fruits are full of nutrients. You can add more green veggies to your diet. Try to make your plate more colorful.

Foods that Help with Bowel Incontinence

Try to avoid foods that consist of sweeteners:

Try to avoid foods that consist of sweeteners to ease the symptoms of fecal incontinence. You can avoid candy and gums as it consists of sweeteners. Try to avoid foods that contain sorbitol

Frequently Asked Questions

Do fiber supplements help to overcome fecal incontinence? 

Yes, along with consuming fiber-rich foods, you can consume fiber supplements. You can consult your doctor and add supplements like Metamucil and its benefits to avoid fecal incontinence. It will help you overcome fecal incontinence gradually. 

Does cutting fast foods help us overcome fecal incontinence?

Yes, by avoiding fast food, you can overcome fecal incontinence. To overcome fecal incontinence, try to cut down excess sugary foods, oily and greasy foods.

Can medicines control fecal incontinence?

Yes, fecal incontinence can be controlled by medications. It occurs due to constipation, hemorrhoids, and muscle damage. Consulting a doctor will help you identify the underlying cause of this problem. You can consult a doctor even on the initial stage to avoid the advanced symptoms of fecal incontinence. 

Wrap Up

Fecal incontinence is more likely to occur in older age. There are various causes of this disorder. If you suffer from constipation, you can reduce fecal incontinence by making a change in your diet. 

Foods that Help with Bowel Incontinence

Certain foods are known to reduce the effect of fecal incontinence on the body. You should avoid oil and greasy food entirely if you suffer from fecal incontinence.

We hope that the information about the foods you need to consume when affected by fecal incontinence will be helpful to you. Healthy and nutritious foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds are rich in fiber content. They are known to ease the symptoms of fecal incontinence. 

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