Supporting Healthy Bowels: A Practical Resource for Client Education

Bowel movements can be influenced by many factors. For many clients, understanding these factors can help them feel more confident in recognising what is normal, what may be contributing to bowel changes, and when to seek further support.

This ‘Healthy Bowels’ resource was developed to provide clear, practical and evidence-informed education for clients. It brings together key lifestyle and health factors that can affect bowel movements, including the role of dietary fibre, hydration, movement, toilet positioning, the gut-brain axis, medication, and the gut microbiota.

The resource is designed to be simple, visual and easy to use during consultations. Clinicians can use it to explain how different factors may influence bowel habits, support behaviour change, and guide conversations around constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, urgency or straining. It may also be helpful for clients who are unsure how their diet, routine, or medications could be affecting their bowel pattern.

An interactive 7-day bowel diary is included at the end of the resource. This diary can be completed by clients and reviewed together during consultations to help identify patterns. While the diary does not diagnose bowel conditions, it can support health professional interpretation and help guide more personalised advice.

By combining education with a practical tracking tool, this resource aims to support meaningful conversations about bowel health and empower clients to take small, achievable steps towards more comfortable and regular bowel habits. 

Click to download the ‘ Healthy Bowels ‘ Resource.