By the time we reach our forties, we are moving more slowly than we used to. But it's not only the legs and lungs that shift into lower gears. There are gut-level changes as well. The muscles of the intestines, like those in the arms and legs, gradually lose tone and get weaker. That's not the only reason the digestive system gets crotchety as it ages.
Prescription drugs can turn into a gut-wrenching experience.
Follow that pattern, and your digestive lining could pay a price. As we noted in Stop-Time Tactic No. 1, your digestive system may be headed for trouble if you eat too much fat and don't get enough dietary fiber . And if you are not getting enough exercise either, don't be surprised when your digestive system starts balking. So it's really not surprising that as we get older we often experience a variety of digestive complaints. Older people, for example, are five times more likely to be constipated than their younger peers.