GARMA, Bryan Neil C.

May 27, 2020

Applied Nutrition – Section B

PROBLEM-SOLVING IN APPLIED NUTRITION

EXERCISE VI

Gastrointestinal
Give your dietary recommendation to 66-year-old man who is chronically suffering from
constipation. Give the rationale.

Patients should develop regular habits through the bowel training program. It should be
encouraged to try defecation first thing in the morning when the intestine is more active and 30 minutes
after meals to take advantage of the gastrocolic reflex. Optimum fiber consumption is 20 to 35 g a day, if
fiber intake is smaller than this, patients will be advised to raise the intake of fiber-rich foods such as
fruit and vegetables. The recommendation is to increase the amount of fiber by 5 g per day each week
until the recommended daily intake is reached. Fluid intake of 3-4 L per day, adequate hydration is
important for the maintenance of bowel motility. He can even workout including cycling, jogging to
reduce the chance of constipation.