Avocado helps toddlers poop, mainly because it’s high in fiber. Low-fiber intake is a common cause of constipation in children. Also, water, electrolytes, and other compounds in avocado make the stool gelatinous and support bowel movement.
What’s the normal frequency of defecation for kids?
Kids with constipation don’t defecate periodically. Moreover, they may not have smooth or bulky stools. Also, they may experience pain during defecation.
The frequency of defecation depends on the child’s age. In the neonatal period and early infancy, defecation occurs even more than 4 times a day. It progressively decreases to 1-2 per day at the age of 4 years.[1]
Is constipation common in children?
Kids with constipation have delayed defecation or a hard time to poop that persists for longer than two weeks. In fact, it is one of the ten most frequent pathological conditions that general pediatricians deal with!
Furthermore, only a small percentage of children has an organic cause of constipation. About 95% of constipation cases have a functional cause. Common causes of constipation in kids are:
- increased body weight
- reduced physical activity
- poor diet
- low-fiber intake
- psychological factors
For instance, toddlers may try to avoid an unpleasant defecation. Actually, the peak incidence of constipation occurs between 2 and 4 years of age. It’s when they learn to go to the bathroom by themselves.
Low-fiber intakes may cause constipation in kids
Kids should eat foods rich in fiber. Adequate amounts of fiber significantly lowers the risk of developing constipation![2]
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children older than 3 years old should get (age + 5) grams of fiber a day. So, a 5-year-old kid should consume at least 10 grams of fiber a day.[3]
Furthermore, according to the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the “age plus 5 grams” formula is highly unlikely to cause any adverse effect on vitamin or mineral concentrations in healthy children following a well-balanced diet. Thus, a moderate increase in fiber for children is more likely to be healthful than harmful.[4]
Unfortunately, most kids and adolescents fail to meet existing recommendations of fiber.[5]
Therefore, it’s highly recommended for toddlers to eat lots of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains!
Avocado is an excellent fruit for preventing or treating functional constipation, due to its high fiber content.
Children are more likely to eat avocado or any other fiber-rich fruit (e.g. banana) than other fiber-rich foods, like beans!
Compounds in avocado that make kids poop!
Actually, avocado is more than fiber. It can make toddlers poop because it hydrates the body better than tap water. Avocado is high in water and electrolytes Proper hydration is necessary for defecation. It lubricates and provides bulk to the stool.
Moreover, avocado has beneficial effects on constipation because it’s high in magnesium, potassium, carotenoids, and many other compounds that support bowel movement.
