A healthy and well-balanced diet is important for maintaining the health of your digestive tract. If you do not eat enough fruits, vegetables and other plant-based foods, you can develop constipation. This is more common in the elderly, according to an article in the Sept. 15, 1998, "American Family Physician," but they can prevent this problem by taking psyllium fiber supplements.
Why Do The Elderly Develop Constipation?
Constipation is often the result of a poor diet. Elderly people often do not eat enough fruit, vegetables and whole gains that they need as they typically follow very simple diets that are easy to digest, the American Academy of Family Physicians explains. Inadequate fluid intake can also contribute to constipation, because it makes the fecal material hard and dry. Finally, the muscles that propel fecal material through your intestines can get weaker with age, resulting in constipation.
What Is Psyllium?
Psyllium comes from the Plantago ovata plant, a shrub-like herb found all over the world but most common in India. The Plantago ovata plant can produce up to 15,000 seeds that are coated in psyllium husk. Psyllium husk is a type of soluble fiber and is found in some natural laxatives. It also can be consumed on its own in powder, granular, capsule, tablet and wafer form, the University of Maryland Medical Center explains.
How Does Psyllium Work?
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that cannot be broken down by your digestive tract, which means it passes through your intestines. When you consume soluble fiber, such as psyllium, it swells to form a gel that is able to push food through your digestive tract. This helps relieve constipation by adding bulk to your stool. Soluble fiber supplements can also lower cholesterol levels, modulate your blood glucose and prevent diarrhea.
Usage
If you take psyllium fiber supplements, be sure to take them with at least 8 ounces of water and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Inadequate fluid intake can cause psyllium fiber to get caught in your digestive tract, making the constipation worse. If you develop nausea, gas or bloating after taking psyllium, lower your dose and then gradually increase it to help your body adjust to the increased fiber intake.
