Fecal impaction is an uncomfortable condition in which a large, dry mass of stool gets stuck in your rectum instead of passing normally out of your body, according to PubMed Health. Impaction usually results from long-term constipation, which means difficulty in passing stool regularly. This problem sometimes has external causes, like certain medications, impaired overall mobility and nerve damage, but your diet can also contribute to constipation. Fiber is an effective preventative.
Process
Fiber fights constipation and fecal impaction because it facilitates the digestive process. This bulky natural material moves through you without being fully digested, and it takes other material with it through your intestines. Insoluble fiber, which does not change its form in water, prevents constipation by bulking up your stool, according to MayoClinic.com. Soluble fiber dissolves in water, and the resulting gel-like material helps maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels as well as aiding digestion.
Fruits and Vegetables
You can add fiber to your diet by increasing the amount and variety of fruits and vegetables you eat, MayoClinic.com advises. Apples, pears, raspberries and strawberries are all good fiber sources, and oranges, bananas, raisins and figs also provide some fiber. Artichokes, peas, turnip greens and broccoli contain high fiber levels, and Brussels sprouts, sweet corn, tomato paste, carrots and potatoes are also helpful.
Nuts, Legumes and Seeds
Split peas, lentils, lima beans, black beans and baked beans all have a high fiber content. Sunflower seeds and nuts such as almonds, pecans and pistachios also ward off constipation and fecal impaction by adding fiber to your diet.
Grains and Pasta
Spaghetti, barley and bran are all healthy foods for your digestive process, according to MayoClinic.com. Any type of oatmeal, whether cooked traditionally or in its instant version, is also a good fiber source. Popcorn provides fiber, as does brown rice and most bread types other than processed white bread.
Considerations
Combine various fiber-rich foods to prevent fecal impaction more efficiently. For example, add bananas or strawberries to a bowel of oatmeal or bran cereal and use tomato paste as the base for your spaghetti sauce. Mix vegetables like peas, corn or broccoli into rice for a high-fiber side dish.
Other Benefits
Fiber is good for fecal impact prevention, and it has several other health benefits. Its blood sugar-regulating properties help prevent diabetes, and it helps your heart because it lowers cholesterol. Fiber also fights obesity by controlling your appetite because you tend to feel full more quickly when you eat a high-fiber diet, according to MayoClinic.com.
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