They make for bulky and soft stools, which move quickly through your digestive tract and keep you from straining. Dr. Wexner recommends 25 grams of fiber a day, minimum. Remember to drink a lot, too. You need both fiber and fluid for bulk. But avoid alcohol and beverages that contain caffeine, since they have a diuretic effect.
Water is best.
Try those, but pass on the laxatives, Dr. Gathright advises. They're too harsh for your digestive tract. Eating a diet with sufficient bulk, most people should have normal bowel function. Normal is anywhere from three bowel movements a day to one every third day. Take a lesson from Holly Golightly, who was always excusing herself to use the powder room in Breakfast at Tiffany's .