4 natural things a 77-year-old does to avoid constipation!

Men over 75 are more likely to suffer from constipation. There are many potential reasons which are listed below. I am pretty fit but recognise the fact that I need to ensure that I don't end up constipated. It is something that one wants to avoid. Here is how I do it.

1. I am as active as possible by e.g. walking in my local park for one hour per day. Good for mental health too. Regular walking helps prevent constipation by stimulating bowel movement and improving gut motility
2. I drink two glasses of water per day to hydrate with difficulty! Alternative: eat 20 grapes - plenty of water in them and low calories. The experts want us to drink more than that but I can't. Laxido is a substitute treatment but I prefer entirely natural methods.
3. I eat 1.5 slices (!) of multi-seed wholemeal bread for breakfast with marmalade (Sainsbury's bread). The marmalade is irrelevant. The bread is useful fibre. Why 1.5 slices? Answer: to keep my weight down to the point where my waist is half my height when measured. This promotes good health.
4. Key: I drink a half tumbler of orange juice or other soft, healthy drink with 2 heaped spoonful's of milled Chia seeds daily. These seeds have among the highest level of fibre of all foods I am told. Fibre is essential to good bowel movement. I mix the seeds into the drink. It is not wonderful! But it is palatable and bloody marvellous at ensuring great bowel movements. Alternative: Psyllium husk has the highest fibre content of commonly consumed human foods, at roughly 70–80 percent fibre by weight. Psyllium husks are sold mainly as whole husks, powder (finely ground husk), granules, capsules, and ready-mixed sachets for stirring into water. But psyllium husk is harder to find at supermarkets. Chia can be bought at Sainsbury's in the UK.

Men over the age of 75 are more likely to experience constipation

Men over the age of 75 are more likely to experience constipation, and the reasons are layered rather than mysterious. Ageing changes the body’s rhythms. The digestive tract slows, intestinal muscles lose some of their spring, and the coordinated wave that moves stool along becomes less efficient. What once happened without thought can begin to stall.

Lifestyle factors quietly add weight to the problem. Older men often move less, whether due to joint pain, balance issues, or general fatigue. Physical movement acts like a gentle internal nudge to the bowels, and when that nudge fades, so can regularity. Diet also shifts with age. Appetite may decline, meals become smaller, and fibre intake often drops just when it is needed most.

Medications are another key player. Drugs commonly prescribed in later life, such as opioids, anticholinergics, antidepressants, and some blood pressure medicines, can slow bowel activity. Dehydration is also more common in older men, partly due to a reduced sense of thirst, and dry stools are harder to pass.

Finally, conditions more prevalent after 75, including diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and prostate enlargement, can interfere with normal bowel function. Constipation in older men is therefore not a single problem, but the result of many small changes accumulating over time, turning a minor inconvenience into a persistent companion.

Note: I live with a cat! Cats want their caregiver to be healthy and functioning satisfactorily even if they don't know it!

Note: the suggestions on this page to avoid constipation are made on the premise that the person has no underlying illness that causes constipation.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Probiotics are available for domestic cats online and they can prove beneficial in alleviating constipation and to improve health

There is a new probiotic product on the market which helps to alleviate constipation in domestic cats. The company that produces it, ExeGi Pharma, say this about the launch of their product:

The launch of Visbiome Vet Constipation Care is an important advancement in feline health solutions. Constipation in domestic cats is a common issue which seriously impacts the quality of life for many cats and their pet parents.

They state that it gives veterinarians and cat caregivers "a new tool for managing a complicated condition be limited therapeutic options."

Image from the manufacturer.

The product has been created on the basis of extensive research and development "to combine unique probiotic strains strategically picked to support gastrointestinal health."

The product contains "a high potency and eight strained probiotic blend".

A study was conducted on the product. There were 10 participants all of which were diagnosed with chronic constipation and unresponsive to medical management. They received treatment with the product for  90 days at the end of which they "demonstrated significant clinical improvement after SLAB51 treatment.

This product contains SLAB51.

FYI - you can buy probiotics for domestic cats on the Internet, specifically on Amazon which is my favourite retailer! There is actually a wide range of probiotics including Purina ProPlan FortiFlora Cat Probiotic Sachet. 

This is one example and it may be useful to discuss probiotics for cats with your veterinarian if you believe your cat is constipated. The balance of bacteria in the stomach is very important to the immune system generally. And it can affect and improve health if there is a good balance of good bacteria.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Natural Cat Laxative Options

Natural cat laxative options might appeal to many people who don't want to go down the vet + chemical drug route to cure cat constipation. I don't intend to usurp the roll of veterinarians but there is a place for natural cures as long as people know when to go the vet - use common sense.

Sometimes cat constipation can be caused by:

1. stress;
2. inadequate litter facilities;
3. a diet that includes insufficient bulk fiber, and
4. inadequate exercise.

These causes are similar to those that affect people. Natural laxatives might be something to try first.

A half teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil can be added to cat food twice per day. It may lubricate the impacted fecal mass and stimulate muscle contractions. Please monitor the effect to check if normal movements restart. You will need to be involved with litter tray duty to monitor whether improvements have been made. Cats that go to the toilet outside are almost impossible to monitor.

An additional supplement is to add one teaspoon of powdered psyllium seed to your cat's food twice daily. You can buy this in health food stores for people. It is safe and not addictive. You can check it out on the Internet (If you Google "psyllium seed" and you will get lots of options).

Dr. John Heinerman also recommends fresh or dried fruit such as figs, dates and prunes. I am not sure if a cat will eat these foods even when blended in to commercial food.

Another natural laxative is wheat or barley grass. It is available on the Internet (Google "wheatgrass"). Mix half a teaspoon into each feeding session.

Source: Low Cost Natural Cures for your Dog and Cat Your Vet Doesn't Want You to Know