How can you care for yourself by using a diet for fecal incontinence?
- Keep a food diary of what you eat. This can help you find out which foods may help or cause this problem.
- Eat small, frequent meals.
- If you and your doctor feel that constipation is part of the problem:
- Include fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains in your diet each day. These foods are high in fiber.
- Drink plenty of fluids. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and have to limit fluids, talk with your doctor before you increase the amount of fluids you drink.
- Get some exercise every day. Build up slowly to 30 to 60 minutes a day on 5 or more days of the week.
- Take a fiber supplement, such as Citrucel or Metamucil, every day. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
- If you and your doctor feel that diarrhea is part of the problem, try to avoid:
- Alcohol.
- Caffeine. This is found in coffee, tea, cola drinks, and chocolate.
- Nicotine, from smoking or chewing tobacco.
- Gas-producing foods. These include beans, broccoli, cabbage, and apples.
- Dairy products that contain lactose (milk sugar). Examples are ice cream, milk, cheese, and sour cream.
- Foods and drinks high in sugar, especially fruit juice, soda, candy, and other packaged sweets (such as cookies).
- Foods high in fat. These include bacon, sausage, butter, oils, and anything deep-fried.
- Sorbitol and xylitol. These artificial sweeteners are found in some sugarless candies and chewing gum.
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