A neighbor who eats a high-fiber diet is suffering irregularity. What else can he do to get back on track?

5 Comments

1. chopper says:

   March 10, 2010 at 10:42 am

   Milk of magnesia.

   There is such a thing as too much fiber. I remember the bran muffin craze years ago. There was a story in the paper about a guy who ate several bran muffins daily. He ended up in the hospital, having a very uncomfortable procedure to get HIM back on track.
2. JMENSAN FAN says:

   March 10, 2010 at 10:42 am

   OMG, I’m an EXPERT on irregularity because I’ve suffered from it all my life.

   First of all, he needs to start taking magnesium on a regular basis. They sell magnesium pills at any vitamin store and it’s like Milk of Magnesia without the chalky taste. Not only will it help with the regularity issues but it will help keep his bones healthy. Lots of people take calcium for the bones but many fail to take magnesium not knowing that the body cannot utilize the calcium to make strong bones if it’s magnesium deficient!

   Naturally, it’s important that he drink plenty of water while doing this.

   He also needs to start including Essential Fatty Acids in his vitamin plan. Fish oil, flaxseed oil, borage oil, sesame seed oil, there’s many sources of EFA’s but they’re the body’s natural lubricants.

   For example, before I started supplementing with EFA’s, I often had problems with ear wax build up and the doctor had to flush my ears out to clean out the old wax. It was because I was deficient in the "good" oils, EFA’s, and the body needs EFA’s to lubricate many, many parts including the ear canal. A couple of weeks after starting to regularly supplement with EFA’s, a big chunk of wax fell out of one of my ears. Gross, right? But good for me since now I don’t have to go to the doctor to get the wax out!

   If a high fiber diet isn’t doing it for him, suggest the magnesium and EFA’s. With magnesium, suggest he do the recommended daily dosage as stated on the package for starters and, if that doesn’t get him going, to increase it. I found that I have to take 3 to 4 times the recommended daily dosage to stay regular. Instead of 1 pill, I take 3 or 4 pills a day. Sometimes I cut back to 2 but if I forget to take them for a couple of days then I’m quickly reminded by my bowels.
3. H-man says:

   March 10, 2010 at 10:42 am

   Prune Juice is a great laxative
4. Zelda Hunter (((Tibet))) says:

   March 10, 2010 at 10:42 am

   Exercise helps, as does a mild Senna tea. Laxatives should not be used on a daily basis unless the doctor says so.
5. Chetak. says:

   March 10, 2010 at 10:42 am

   Castor oil acts directly on intestines.
   Gives them an oil & grease.