Diet for fecal incontinence: what to eat and what to avoid (with video)

Fecal incontinence is a condition characterized by the involuntary loss or inability to control the elimination of feces and gases through the anus. For this reason, nutrition plays a fundamental role in treating the condition, as it is possible to improve the consistency of the stool and, thus, help to reduce the effort that the anal sphincter, which is flaccid, has to make to prevent the leakage of feces. feces.

To this end, it is important to avoid consuming foods that irritate or stimulate the intestinal mucosa, such as coffee, chocolate, pepper or alcoholic beverages, for example, as well as regulating the amount of fiber that is ingested, since its Excessive consumption can have the opposite effect and worsen incontinence.

Some studies on this topic have shown that almost half of people can improve their fecal incontinence with professional guidance on eating habits, in addition to treatment recommended by their doctor. Therefore, it is recommended that people who suffer from this type of incontinence have regular consultations with a nutritionist.

Foods that can be avoided

There are foods that are more likely to cause gas and diarrhea and should therefore be avoided by those who suffer from fecal incontinence. Some examples include:

• Coffee, energy drinks, chocolate, chocolate drinks, soft drinks, black tea, green tea or mate tea which are rich in caffeine that irritates the intestinal mucosa;
• Foods with sweeteners, such as sorbitol, mannitol or xylitol: they are known to cause gas production and worsen diarrhea;
• Sugar and very sweet foods, such as candies, cookies, cakes and others;
• Legumes, such as peas, lentils, chickpeas and beans: are known to cause gas. See a list of other foods that cause gas.
• Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts or cauliflower.
• spicy foods
• Alcoholic beverages.

Furthermore, milk and dairy products can cause more gas and cause softer stools that are difficult to control, due to the presence of lactose, especially in people with lactose intolerance.

To make a better dietary adaptation, it is always advisable to consult a nutritionist, as various techniques can be used, such as recording in a food diary what and when you eat and the moment of fecal loss, and thus you can identify patterns that will help to define which foods should really be avoided in each case.

Allowed foods

The foods that can be consumed in greater quantities are those that are easily digestible, such as:

• Rice;
• Noodle;
• Tapioca;
• Pumpkin;
• Yam;
• green banana;
• White bread;
• Cookie cream cracker;
• Potato;
• cornstarch;
• White meats, such as chicken or turkey;
• Fish.

In the case of fruits and vegetables, preference should be given to pears, apples, skinless peaches, green bananas, cooked carrots, zucchini and eggplant.

Furthermore, as many people with fecal incontinence may also suffer from intestinal malabsorption syndromes, it is still important to consult a nutritionist to assess the need for supplementation with a multivitamin.

Drinking water is also important to avoid dehydration that can be caused by frequent elimination of feces. It may also be recommended to prefer to take homemade serum when you suffer from chronic diarrhea.

Treatments to cure fecal incontinence

As nothing can be resolved with just one approach, in addition to dietary care, exercise, medication or treatments can be very important to control and cure fecal incontinence. So, check out in this video what the specialist physiotherapist teaches about it:

Is it possible to ingest fiber in cases of fecal incontinence?

Although fiber is very important in the diet, as it helps with the correct functioning of the intestine, excessive consumption can lead to the appearance of symptoms such as abdominal bloating, excess gas and even diarrhea. Therefore, fiber consumption should not be eliminated, but rather correctly regulated.

There are two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Ideally, insoluble fiber should be avoided, as excessive consumption can greatly accelerate bowel movements and result in bouts of diarrhea. Soluble fibers can bring benefits to those with fecal incontinence, as they can improve the consistency of feces, making them less soft, in addition to slightly reducing the speed of intestinal transit.

Some studies also indicate that people who have fecal incontinence and a reduced capacity of the colon and rectum to store feces often suffer from chronic diarrhea and, therefore, should avoid fiber consumption as much as possible. People who have a normal capacity to store feces in the colon and rectum can benefit from supplementation with 15 grams of soluble fiber from psyllium, for example, which helps to improve the consistency of feces.