Fluids may prevent constipation better than fiber

By Kathryn Doyle NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Everyone knows that getting enough fiber is a secret to staying “regular,” but a large new study finds that people who got plenty of fluids were the least likely to suffer constipation. The results highlight the importance of hydration, but shouldn’t discount fiber or other lifestyle factors, according to lead author Alayne Markland, of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama. “I still think that diet, fiber, exercise and increased fluid should remain the recommendations,” Markland told Reuters Health. …