MyFoodPathEat well. One step at a time.
Hand-painted illustration of oats, flaxseeds, pears, dried plums and psyllium husk.

How nutrition works

Bowel regularity

Stool frequency and consistency – and what influences them.

Bowel regularity is reflected in stool frequency and consistency. Dietary fibre and sufficient fluid play an important role.

Nutrients & foods

  • Evidence: limited

    Banana

    • Cooked green-banana preparations may improve some symptoms in children and adolescents with functional constipation, but the evidence is limited. [1]

      Evidence

  • Evidence: strong

    Dietary fibre

    • An adequate dietary fibre intake supports normal bowel function. [2]

      Evidence

  • Evidence: moderate

    Psyllium husk

    • Psyllium husk can improve stool frequency and consistency and reduce straining in adults with chronic constipation. [3][4]

      Evidence

Related articles

  • Painted garden path winding between herbs, leafy greens, fennel and chamomile

    News

    MyFoodPath is live – and why this project exists

    After a long preparation, MyFoodPath goes live: a knowledge base showing what foods and nutrients have been scientifically shown to do – and what they have not.

  • Abstract illustration of grains on an olive-green background

    How-to

    Eating more fibre: step by step

    How to increase your fibre intake slowly and practically – with whole grains, fruit and, if you like, psyllium husk.

Sources

  1. 012019Health Benefits of Green Banana Consumption: A Systematic ReviewOpen source
  2. 02European Food Safety Authority · 2010EFSA sets European dietary reference values for nutrient intakesOpen source
  3. 03The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · 2022The Effect of Fiber Supplementation on Chronic Constipation in Adults: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trialsvan der Schoot A, Drysdale C, Whelan K, Dimidi EDOI 10.1093/ajcn/nqac184PubMed 35816465
  4. 04European Medicines AgencyCommunity herbal monograph on Plantago ovata Forssk., seminis tegumentumOpen source