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Happy Tummy Expert

1 year ago

Dear Emely Chatterjee, Thank you for the question

The habit or urge to consume non edible foods such as paper, chalk, mud etc is known as Pica. Sometimes the urge can also be for some raw food ingredients such as raw rice, flour, raw potato etc.  Consuming such items can lead to indigestion, infections etc. Pica may also indicate an underlying micronutrient or macronutrient deficiency.

For further diagnosis and assistance we request you to kindly contact your specialized health care professional

As per some experts, it can be considered healthy to have a bowel movement ranging from 3 times a day to 3 times a week.

Difficulty in passing stools or hard stools is constipation which can occur due to inadequate fiber and water intake, it may also be a symptom of gastrointestinal digestive issues such as indigestion, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), intolerances etc., and/or due to an underlying health condition which requires medical attention.

Some other causes that can lead to constipation include neglecting urge to defecate, irregular meals, excess stress etc.  For further diagnosis and assistance kindly contact your specialized health care professional.

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of fiber for  female is 25g per day

Here are a few tips to help manage constipation

• Include adequate amount of fiber to your daily balanced diet. Some of the good sources of fiber include Whole grains, multigrain, millets, Psyllium, fruits such as apples, banana, citrus fruits, vegetables like green beans, peas, potato, cauliflower, nuts and soybean etc.
• An intake of at least 2 litres of water per day.
• A glass of hot water , preferably taken with lemon juice taken early in the morning, stimulates gastro colic reflex and helps ease constipation.

A few guidelines for general digestive health to be considered:

• Do not skip your meals, have small frequent meals at regular intervals.
• Eat a well-balanced diet including minimum 5 serving of vegetables and 1 serving of fruit in a day as they are good sources of fiber and essential nutrients such as vitamin A, Vitamin B, iron, zinc etc.
• Include prebiotics such as banana, soyabean, garlic etc., good sources of probiotics like yogurt, buttermilk etc., to maintain a healthy gut.
• Try to include whole grains like wheat, multigrain and millets in your daily diet as they are a good source of fiber and other nutrients.
• Avoid large, heavy meals, and practice portion guidance.
• Deep fried foods to be restricted. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
• Food should be eaten slowly and chewed well as fast eating provokes gastric feeding reflex.
• Avoid lying down immediately after your meal consumption
• Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day
• Have a gap of minimum 2-3 hours between bedtime and your last meal
• Engage in physical activity for a minimum of 30-45 minutes for at least 5 days a week.
• Try to follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and quality.

For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions, please contact your Health care professional.

Hope we have answered your query.

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