Bowel

How to Keep Your Bowel Healthy – Key Messages

• Eat a healthy balanced diet.
• Aim for 5 portions of fruit or vegetables per day.
• Include all food groups in your diet, including fibre, protein, carbohydrates etc.
• Drink 1.5 to 2 litres of fluids per day, avoiding fluids that may irritate such as alcohol, caffeine and fizzy drinks.
• Avoid smoking as this may irritate the bowel as well as potentially cause other health problems.
• Aim to do 30 minutes of exercise at least 5 times a week.
• Make sure to empty your bowels when your body asks you to, don’t put it off as this will encourage constipation.
• If safe try to sit correctly on the toilet with your feet flat on the floor or a hard surface, relax your shoulders and rest your elbows on your thighs and push down gently.

Bowel Related Documents for Professionals

Clinical Guidance

• Bowel Management – Resource Pack
• Bowel Chart

Forms

• Bowel Assessment Form

Pathways

• Bowel Pathway

Related Links

• Royal College of Nursing – Management of Lower Bowel Dysfunction including DRE and DRF 2019

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