High-fiber fruits act as natural laxatives when you experience mild irregularity. Safer and less habit-forming than drugstore laxatives, fruit also gives you the essential nutrients you need for a healthy diet.

Constipation occurs when you go an abnormally long period of time without a bowel movement. Constipation can be caused by a lack of fiber in your diet, as a result of dehydration or due to certain medications. One treatment for constipation is magnesium citrate, a laxative that can be purchased without a prescription.

The National Institutes of Health defines constipation as having a bowel movement fewer than three times per week. People with constipation typically report dry, hard, compact stools that are difficult to eliminate.

The color of your stool helps you determine the cause of your problem. When your stools are maroon or bright red, it usually means you have a lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract problem, which includes the large bowel and rectum.

The majority of urinary tract infections start in the bladder and urethra, which are the lower portions of the urinary system. Untreated infections may spread to the kidneys and cause serious damage. The first line of treatment for a minor urinary tract infection is a round of antibiotics.

Blood appears in the stool for various reasons, including infection, cancer, digestive disorders and open wounds, such as hemorrhoids and ulcers. Blood may be visible to the human eye in some cases, suggesting the blood is from the lower digestive tract.

Hematuria, or blood in the urine, can result from a number of causes, including exercise. Although hematuria is more common in long distance runners, this condition can occur after any type of prolonged, intense physical activity. In most cases, it is not cause for serious concern.

"Please shower before entering pool." "There is only one "p" in pool and we would like to keep it that way." You might have seen similar signs at your local pool. Humorous or not, these guidelines are intended to keep swimmers healthy.

An infection of the intestines can occur when a bacteria, virus or parasite enter the tissues. Symptoms of these infections are often similar and include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and sometimes a fever.

Exercising can produce a number of results, including increased muscle mass, decreased body fat, improved strength and endurance and sometimes darker urine. Often, simple dehydration results in darker urine. Pre-workout supplementation may contribute to this.

Some gastrointestinal conditions that damage your digestive tract, such as inflammatory bowel disease or cancer, may require a surgical opening in your abdomen, which allows stool to leave your body. This surgery is medically known as an ileostomy, while the opening itself is called a stoma.

Metamucil, or psyllium, is a bulk-forming fiber laxative. This medication absorbs water in the intestines to create a softer bulkier stool that is easier to pass, states Drugs.com. Metamucil is recommended for patients with constipation, but may also be used to lower cholesterol levels.