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| Healthy digestion |
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Everybody is an individual - and this is true of digestion too! Different people have different
digestive rhythms. Our bodies also change over time, and react to events around us. Because the digestive process is
so complex and the colon is such a sensitive organ, we may notice changes in our digestion and wonder if this is normal.
This section looks at what is considered healthy, normal digestion patterns. Of course, your health care professional is
the best person to advise you if you notice any sudden changes, or if you experience discomfort or pain.
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| Your body's individual rhythm |
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In the past, many people believed that having one bowel movement a day was essential to
good health. Modern medicine has shown, however, that this is not the case. Some healthy people have three bowel movements a
week; some have one a day, some more than one a day. All of these can be considered normal and healthy. |
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| Regularity: what's normal? |
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The checklist below presents the four main points for defining freedom from constipation: |
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Do you move your bowels three times a week or more? |
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Are you usually able to defecate without needing to strain? |
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Are your stools usually relatively soft? |
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Do you produce more than 30g (one ounce) of stool |
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If you answered "yes" to all these questions, then your digestion actually functions normally. Please speak to your doctor about your digestion concerns, especially if you experience pain, or if there is any sudden change in your digestion that lasts for more than two weeks. |
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