A colonoscopy is a vital screening test for detecting potential health problems in the colon, such as polyps, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and colorectal cancer. You’ve made it through your colonoscopy, which means the hardest part is behind you. Following the procedure, the foods you choose in the following hours and days can make a big difference in how quickly your digestive tract recovers. This article provides a detailed guide on what to eat and what to avoid after a colonoscopy to ensure a smooth and comfortable recovery.
Why Diet Matters After a Colonoscopy
After a colonoscopy, a gentle, step-by-step eating plan can ease bloating and prevent constipation. The bowel prep process empties and cleanses the colon to get it ready for a colonoscopy, providing a clear view of the rectum and large intestine. Air is introduced into the colon to allow your doctor to examine the lining better. Your digestive system will need to recover from both the bowel preparation and the colonoscopy. You may also be a bit more sensitive to food. Because foods and drinks may irritate the gastrointestinal tract, there are precautions that should be taken. The procedure entails purging the colon with a laxative that temporarily renders the digestive tract in one’s body weakened. A careful diet promotes healing, restores nutrients, and prevents irritation or discomfort in the digestive tract, which is sensitive post-procedure.
Initial Stage: Clear Liquids
After a colonoscopy, your doctor might suggest starting with clear liquids. This will help you rehydrate and ease back into eating. During the first few hours after colonoscopy, consider starting with a liquid diet to help avoid dehydration. After the colonoscopy is done, one should avoid taking solid foods and for the following 1- 2 hours, you only take clear liquids to help with on-board digestion.
Examples of clear liquids include:
- Water
- Clear, plain broths
- Herbal tea without cream or milk
- Electrolyte drinks, such as Pedialyte or DripDrop
- Apple juice
- Liquid-based foods, such as mild soup and applesauce
Make Rehydration a Priority. While this article highlights great meal ideas, the most essential thing to provide your body after a colonoscopy is plenty of fluids with electrolytes. Bowel prep can be very dehydrating, so once your procedure is over, plan to drink several cups of an oral rehydration solution like Pedialyte or DripDrop. You can also make your own oral rehydration solution at home by mixing the following: 4 cups water 1/2 cup orange juice 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sugar 1 teaspoon table salt. The University of Virginia Health System offers other rehydration recipes. Avoid regular sports drinks, as they often have too much sugar and too few electrolytes to rehydrate you properly. Sports drinks can also cause digestive issues, especially for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
Transitioning to Soft, Low-Fiber Foods
After liquids, low-fiber, soft foods that are gentle on the digestive system can be added. These foods will help your body ease back into eating solid meals without stressing the colon. After 1-2 hours, transition to low-fiber foods like white rice, boiled potatoes, or yogurt. When you are ready for a meal always ensure that you go for foods that have little or no fiber to avoid putting a lot of pressure on your digestive system.
Suitable options include:
- Mashed potatoes (made without cream, butter, or cheese)
- White rice
- White toast and scrambled eggs
- Whitefish (like tilapia, cod, or sea bass) or skinless chicken breast
- Yogurt
- Pudding
- Applesauce
- Bananas
- Plain, lightly salted, or unseasoned crackers
- White bread
- Scrambled eggs without any added dairy products or seasonings
- Lean proteins like chicken, turkey, soft tofu, or fish
- Tofu and Cooked Veggies: Tofu is a great vegetarian alternative to lean meat. Tofu is also very soft, which makes it easy to digest. As tasty as fried tofu is, it should be avoided following a colonoscopy since it tends to absorb the oil in which it has been fried. Opt for broiled or baked tofu instead. Tofu can be paired with veggies to add some color and flavor to your meal. Avoid cruciferous veggies, like broccoli, kale, and cauliflower, as they’re high in fiber and can stimulate gas. Cooked carrots are a good option as they bring earthy flavor, plenty of nutrients, and little fiber.
- White Noodles: White (not whole-grain) noodles, like rice noodles or semolina pasta, cooked in salted water or chicken or veggie broth, can be a warm and gentle meal. The broth brings some flavor and is also hydrating. For the lowest fat option, use veggie broth as it has almost no fat at all.
- Fruit Smoothie: A smoothie made with fruit juices or peeled or canned peaches or pears can be great for hydrating and getting important nutrients. You could also include other low-fiber fruits like bananas, honeydew melon, and cantaloupe. You can add a splash of nondairy milk to get some creaminess without the lactose that can be a trigger food. Avoid using whole fruits in your smoothie, as skins and seeds will add to your fiber intake. It’s also best to avoid acidic fruits, like berries, and citrus fruits, such as limes and oranges.
- Chicken Noodle or Veggie Soup and Crackers: Chicken noodle soup is often a go-to meal when you’re not feeling well and can also be great post-colonoscopy, as it includes low-residue foods like lean protein, refined noodles, and plenty of liquid. A veggie soup is a great alternative for those who don’t eat meat but still crave a warming bowl of nourishing soup. Refined-grain crackers, like saltines, can add a nice crunch to the many soft foods recommended after a colonoscopy.
Foods to Avoid After a Colonoscopy
To aid healing, it’s beneficial to avoid foods that are hard to digest the day after. Raw vegetables and fruits with skins or seeds can be irritating. Avoid spicy, high-fiber, fried, or greasy foods, as well as dairy-heavy products and carbonated drinks, to prevent bloating or irritation. Some foods may be too hard on your digestive system immediately after your colonoscopy. You should wait at least 24 hours - or longer depending, on guidance from your health care provider - to eat the following foods:
- Carbonated drinks, such as soda, alcohol, and sparkling water
- Steak, or any tough, hard-to-digest meat
- Whole grains, such as breads and crackers
- Raw vegetables
- Corn
- Legumes
- Brown rice
- Fruit with the skin on
- Dried fruit, such as raisins
- Coconuts
- Spices, such as garlic, curry, and red pepper
- Highly seasoned foods
- Crunchy nut butter
- Popcorn
- Fried food
- Nuts
- Whole or chopped nuts
- Alcohol
- Popcorn
- Coconut
- Corn
- Raw or undercooked vegetables
- Brown rice
- Legumes
- Crunchy nut butter
- Whole grain bread and baked products
- Tough proteins, such as steak
- Fruit with skin, such as apples
- Red meat (like beef and pork)
- Raw vegetables and salad
- Fruit where you eat the skin (such as whole apples, pears and grapes)
- Dried fruit
- Milk, ice cream and similar dairy products
- Nuts and seeds
- Whole-grain products
- Brown rice
- Spicy or heavily seasoned dishes
- High-fat foods
- Fried foods
Gradually Reintroducing Fiber
Gradually reintroduce low-fiber, cooked vegetables and peeled fruits like bananas or applesauce after 1-2 days to support healthy digestion. After a day or two, one must slowly begin to consume fiber products in order to promote healthy digestion, but not ruining the bowels.
Special Dietary Instructions
If your doctor removed polyps or did a biopsy, they might give you special diet instructions. Following these can help you heal properly. If you had a polyp removed (polypectomy), a doctor may recommend additional dietary guidelines. If a doctor has removed a polyp during the colonoscopy, they may also recommend further food restrictions. For example, foods that contain seeds, kernels, and nuts may be avoided because these small, hard particles could get trapped in the healing wound and cause infection. It is also advised to avoid foods that may cause additional gas, such as beans or carbonated beverages. This is because during a colonoscopy gas is blown into the colon to open it up to allow better visibility. After the procedure, this excess gas may be uncomfortable, and a person may feel the need to pass gas more frequently.
Read also: Walnut Keto Guide
Lifestyle Habits to Prevent Colon Cancer
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following lifestyle habits may help prevent colon cancer:
- Getting regular exercise
- Maintaining a healthy-for-you weight
- Quitting smoking, if you smoke
- Limiting alcohol, if you drink
The CDC also recommends eating a well-balanced diet, which may include:
- Eating whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, and low fat dairy products
- Limiting animal fats
Addressing Common Post-Colonoscopy Symptoms
After a colonoscopy, some people may feel nauseated, fatigued, and uneasy about eating again. You may feel hungry after a colonoscopy because you most likely haven’t eaten food for at least 24 hours. That said, you may find it difficult to eat immediately due to symptoms like bloating, intestinal gas, and abdominal pain. Some research suggests that probiotics may help restore your gut microbiome after a colonoscopy.
After a colonoscopy, some people may feel bloated or pass a lot of gas. Sometimes the medications used for sedation during a colonoscopy can also make people feel nauseous afterward and not interested in eating, says Lance Uradomo, MD, MPH, an interventional gastroenterologist at City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, California. “Feeling bloated or gassy after a colonoscopy might also make some people not have a big appetite right away,” Dr. Uradomo adds. “These feelings are normal and should resolve on their own, but contact your doctor if they persist.” To manage these symptoms, easing back into a normal diet by starting with small, light meals can help.
How Long Until You Can Eat Normally?
Most people can resume their normal diet within a day or two after a colonoscopy. You can usually start eating as soon as you get home after a colonoscopy. Some providers say you can quickly return to a normal diet. But for some people, it may take a day or two before they can eat normally after a colonoscopy. How soon you can eat and what you can eat may depend on the details of your procedure. If your doctor took any biopsies (tissue samples) or if you had polyps removed, you may need to wait longer. Make sure you ask about aftercare instructions so you know how best to take care of yourself after your procedure.
Read also: Weight Loss with Low-FODMAP
A person will typically fully recover and be able to eat normally one day after their colonoscopy.
Tips for a Speedy Recovery
Most people recover quickly from a colonoscopy, but it’s important to follow all your doctor’s instructions. What is the fastest way to recover from a colonoscopy? Most people can expect a full recovery from a colonoscopy 1 day after the procedure. Following a colonoscopy, a person should rest. If a person is experiencing discomfort, they can try:
- Avoiding any strenuous activity and taking a day off work before returning to your normal routine.
- Passing wind
- Moving about and changing positions to settle the air in their bowel
- Drinking a warm liquid, like peppermint tea
If you experience any unusual symptoms, tell your doctor right away.
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