This is a part of the Hot Topic podcast series from the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center on Managing Bowel Function After Spinal Cord Injury. Gianna Rodriguez, MD, researcher, discusses Fiber and Fluids.

Gianna Rodriguez, M.D.

Asst. Professor, Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

University of Michigan

We encourage people with spinal cord injury to have a good amount of natural fiber in their diet. And what that means is a bowl of either fruits or vegetables per meal. This helps with the consistency of their stools.

Since we encourage high fiber intake, we need to ensure that the person with spinal cord injury also takes a good amount of non-caffeinated fluids of about 1.5 to 2 liters per day because if they take less than this, then, you know, a high fiber diet can lead to constipation.

Visit https://msktc.org/sci and get the answers you need from experts who conduct innovative and high-quality research, provide patient care, and work to improve the health and overall quality of life for people with spinal cord injury. That’s https://msktc.org/sci.