Roughage is the term that we usually give to fiber. Fiber is dietary material from plants that is difficult for the body to digest. Roughage definitely helps constipation. Most foods that we consume these days are very low in fiber. There are two main types of fiber. They are soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber is easier to break down and it is found in foods like beans,...

Chronic constipation and IBS bowel syndrome are problems that have plagued millions of Americans. It is estimated that 4.5 million Americans are affected by it every year. On a worldwide basis, it is estimated that 37 million people are affect by chronic constipation every year. It strikes people from all walks of life and in all social statures. Medical research has not been able to determine...

Cybill Shepherd has revealed that she suffers from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The star of Moonlighting and Taxi Driver says that she has struggled with her symptoms for many years, and is now hoping to raise awareness of IBS and encourage sufferers to talk more openly with their doctors. She says: 'For years I have been battling recurring constipation, abdominal pain and bloating. Go...

IBS bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder which causes the bowels or the gut to be oversensitive. This increase in sensitivity causes a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, which includes excessive gas, stomach cramps and pains, bloating of the abdomen, constipation, and diarrhea. Obviously, these symptoms do not exactly make for the ideal life. Unfortunately however, a large portion of IBS...

IBS bowel syndrome is believed to be due to the abnormal function (dysfunction) of the muscles of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract or the nerves controlling the organs. The nervous control of the gastrointestinal tract, however, is complex. A system of nerves runs the entire length of the gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the anus in the muscular walls of the organs. These...