Key facts about managing bowel incontinence -
Managing diet
A good diet: The key to good health and happy
bowels What diet will help achieve the right
stool consistency for good bowel management?
While a healthy diet for people of all ages is a general health
principle, diet can be used effectively by some people to alter
stool consistency and support bowel control.
It is important to know which foods cause loose stools (diarrhoea)
and which foods will promote a good firm stool.
Foods which are frequently
associated with causing loose stools
• Citrus fruit, fruit juice, passionfruit,
pineapple
• Corn (fresh or tinned)
• Baked beans
• Chocolate/malt/chocolate powders used to flavour
milk
• Nuts/dried fruit.
If I need to soften stool consistency,
what should I eat?
Eat more of:
• high fibre breads
and natural whole grain cereals: eg. bran, oatmeal, rice
• fresh raw vegetables, raw fruit, sugar free juices
• fatty cuts — mince, sausage, mullet, tuna and
mackerel
• matured or processed cheese, yoghurt
• whole milk
• herbs, spices, nuts, pizza, muesli bars, chocolate.
Eat less of:
• highly refined (white) breads,
biscuits
• tinned fruits, juice with high sugar content
• lean cuts such as veal, chicken and whiting
• soft drinks, cordials, skim milk
• plain sugar, syrups, jellies, sweets.
If I need to harden stool consistency,
what should I eat?
Eat more of:
• white bread
• cooked vegetables with low fibre such as potatoes,
pumpkins, carrots
• tinned fruit in small amount
• lean meats - veal, chicken, whiting
• cottage cheese, boiled or poached eggs
• skim or low fat milk
• honey, jelly.
Eat less
of:
• high fibre breads and natural
whole grain cereals: eg. bran, oatmeal, muesli
• fresh fruits and vegetables, fruit juice
• fatty cuts - mince, sausage, mullet, tuna and mackerel
• whole milk, cheese, fried eggs
• cream
• herbs, spices, pizza
• minimise oil, butter and margarine.
As you can see, it is not a mater of limiting
your food intake to alter stool consistency. It is a matter of selecting
the right foods to suit your purpose. There is plenty of variety
to choose from. You won’t go hungry!
