Constipation. A most frequent complaint of people in their later years is constipation, as a prolonged time between bowel movements, or as great difficulty in bowel evacuation when it does occur. Wide confusion exists concerning what is normal for bowel activity. In youth, we are moving about quickly, and bowels are of little concern, but in later life, fast moving activity is just a memory and bowels become a great concern.
It is also true that bowel matter is unequaled in its universal abhorrence, and to seek disposal as quickly and completely as possible, is only natural for every person. This usually means a bowel movement is desirable every day and anything less than a daily movement in a person with time enough to notice, immediately establishes the complaint of constipation. An estimate of bowel activity for most people is one movement a day, but while desirable, it does not necessarily indicate good health.
Bowel activity, more than anything else, reflects activity of the entire body. Compare the action in the colon of a person who is bed-ridden, with the colon of a physically active, hardworking person. Without any doubt, the colon subjected to a shaking-up by body activity will be far more active and regular.
One function of the colon is to absorb water out of the fecal waste. If the bowel moves through the colon rapidly as in very active people, water absorption cannot be completed and a soft or liquid bowel movement results. If the bowel movement however, moves very slowly through the colon, as it does in inactive people, all moisture becomes absorbed and a hard, granular or marble-like stool is produced.
In ordinary constipation attention is necessary only for the two factors of diet and regular activity, to effect satisfactory bowel action. The diet to avoid constipation calls for sufficient fiber-type foods, which absorb water to form a moist stool, and a healthful stimulant for the bowel can also be obtained from the juices of prunes, grapes and other fruits. Regular activity in exercising the entire body, also stimulates the colon and aids in promoting daily bowel action.
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