I was going to title this “well crap” but my grandson would say “language gaga”! Seriously, it is kind of an odd subject to write a blog on, but I read a recent study on the subject and found it really interesting. As we age, our bodies sometimes rebel, many times causing us to become incontinent of bowel and bladder. As post-acute care providers, we understand how incontinence can and often does lead to bigger issues such as skin integrity issues, falls, etc. not to mention quality of life for the resident!

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could prevent fecal incontinence before it becomes a problem? Well apparently, adopting a less inflammatory diet can promote health and lower the risk of incontinence! So, what exactly is a “less inflammatory diet”? First and foremost, start with making room for more fruits and vegetables. Sounds simple enough especially with the warmer months ahead of us, right? Now for the more difficult part, substituting red and/or processed meats for other choices such as fish, legumes, beans, and nuts.

The study went on to discuss the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP) score which is interesting but above my pay grade. Bottom line, listen to your mom, she was right all along, leave the twinkies in the box and grab an apple! Stay the course, stay well and stay informed!