Easy ways to stay regular
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Having regular bowel movements is a sign of a healthy digestive system, and it prevents the discomfort of diarrhea and constipation. But regularity is challenging in our older years. It is the job of muscles in the wall of the colon to squeeze digested food downward and eventually out of the body. "As we get older, these muscles become sluggish, so it's not uncommon to become more constipated," says Dr. Robert Burakoff, director of the Center for Digestive Health at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.
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