Water is essential for health because it accounts for over half of your body weight, according to MayoClinic.com. Water is used just about everywhere in your body, including your digestive system. You promote good digestion by eating a lot of fiber, but dietary bulk cannot perform its duties properly if you are not hydrated. You may even get constipated if you consume lots of roughage but do not drink enough water.
Function
Fiber's function in your intestines is to keep food moving through until it reaches the rectum and is discharged through the anus during a bowel movement. Fiber accomplishes this because your body does not digest it. You get no nutrients from dietary roughage, but it helps move other foods along, bulks them up and moisturizes them to create easy-to-pass stool. Insoluble fiber does not change its form in water, although it needs a hydrated environment to do its job, but soluble fiber absorbs water and turns into gel.
Constipation
Constipation means inability to have a bowel movement at least three times weekly. You might strain and feel like your bowel is full, but nothing comes out. Constipation sufferers often have tiny, dry bits of stool that are difficult or painful to pass. Not eating enough fiber and not drinking enough water are both common constipation causes, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Your digestive system does not function efficiently if you are dehydrated or have no bulk in the food you have eaten, making you more prone to dry stool.
Need for Water
A high-fiber, low-fat diet is one of the most effective ways to ward off constipation, but dietary roughage cannot do its job without enough water. You may cause more problems because your intestines cannot easily move dry, indigestible bulk through the digestive tract. The fiber ends up contributing to the problem it was supposed to solve when you eat it without sufficient water intake. Drink at least 8 to 9 cups of water daily to avoid dehydration, MayoClinic.com advises.
Considerations
Fiber is safe because it comes in common foods like beans, vegetables and fruits, but you may get side effects from eating too much dietary bulk, especially if you are not used to a high-fiber diet. Diarrhea and cramps are the most common effects, but the Student Nutrition Awareness Guide advises that you can ward them off by adding more fiber to your diet slowly, over a multiple-week period, and drinking extra water. Water usually lessens the unwanted symptoms while your system adjusts itself to processing more fiber.
