A low-fiber diet involves consuming foods that produce minimal waste (stool). Fiber, an indigestible part of plants, adds bulk to the diet and promotes satiety. While typically recommended for short durations, a low-fiber diet is often necessary following bowel surgery or during flare-ups of bowel problems. In this article, we will explore the guidelines for following a low-fiber diet, particularly in the context of preparing for a colonoscopy, referencing information from sources like Kaiser Permanente and the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (CCA).
Understanding the Low-Fiber Diet
The role of fiber in our diets goes beyond keeping our digestion on track, but when preparing for a colonoscopy, limiting fiber intake is crucial. A low-fiber diet restricts the amount of indigestible material passing through your colon, ensuring it is as clean as possible for the procedure. This is achieved by selecting foods that are easily digestible and leave minimal residue.
When is a Low-Fiber Diet Necessary?
Depending on the health problem, you may eat low-fiber foods for just a short time. A low-fiber diet is frequently recommended in the following situations:
- Before a Colonoscopy: To ensure a clear view of the colon.
- After Bowel Surgery: To allow the digestive system to heal.
- During Flare-ups of Bowel Problems: Such as diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome.
- Certain Cancer Treatments: When treatments make it difficult to pass stool.
- Infection of the GI Tract: Often caused by food poisoning.
Pre-Colonoscopy Diet Plan
If you have an upcoming colonoscopy, you’ll have to change your diet a few days before your exam. You should start to alter your diet about five days before your procedure so your body has time to properly clear out, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (CCA). Here are some diet tips to keep in mind prior to your colonoscopy.
1. Eat Low-Fiber Foods
Most colonoscopy prep instructions recommend starting this diet three to five days before your procedure, so check with your doctor about when you should begin to eat low-fiber foods. Eat a low-residue (or low-fiber) diet in the days leading up to your colonoscopy, according to StatPearls. A low-residue diet limits fibrous foods - which tend to leave remnants in your digestive tract - so your colon is as clean as possible come procedure time.
Read also: High-Fiber Diet for Better Health
Foods to Include:
- Chicken
- Fish
- Eggs
- Tofu
- Refined grains like white rice, white bread, and plain crackers
- Potatoes
- Applesauce
Foods to Avoid:
- Nuts and seeds
- Raw fruits and vegetables with skin
- Certain vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kale
- Whole grains like bread, pasta, brown or wild rice, cereals, shredded wheat, and granola
- Legumes like beans, lentils, and peas
StatPearls also recommends limiting or avoiding other high-residue-diet foods such as milk and milk products like ice cream.
2. Stop Taking Supplements and Certain Medicines
The CCA recommends you stop taking medicine with aspirin and ibuprofen six days prior to your procedure, and hold off on vitamins and herbal and iron supplements five days beforehand. That’s because your doctor wants to see what your colon looks like without the help of health-supporting medicines and supplements.
You can continue to take most prescription medications in the days before your procedure, according to the CCA. Just tell your doctor which medicines you take so they can let you know if there are any specific instructions to be aware of pre-colonoscopy.
3. Follow a Liquid Diet
The day before your exam, you’ll consume only clear liquids, per the CCA. This is vital to help your doctor get the best view possible so they don’t miss any polyps and so you don’t have to repeat the procedure in the near future, according to the Mayo Clinic.
4. Stay Hydrated
Make sure to stay well hydrated in the days before your procedure, according to the CCA. Drink plenty of water or other hydrating beverages like tea (without milk or creamer) - particularly on the day of your laxative prep - to replenish any lost fluids.
Read also: Guide to Keto Fiber
Sample Menus for Before Your Colonoscopy
Unsure what you can eat for your colonoscopy prep? Here are some options to consider.
Five Days Before
Focus on the aforementioned items. You can still eat somewhat normally a few days before a colonoscopy, as long as you start to cut down on fiber. Kaiser Permanente recommends eating only low-fiber foods.
Option One
- Breakfast: Eggs with white toast
- Lunch: Turkey sandwich on white bread and baked potato with skin off
- Dinner: Grilled chicken thighs, sautéed mushrooms, and white rice cooked in chicken broth
Option Two
You’ll start to eat fewer solid foods in the two days before your colonoscopy. The CCA suggests the following:
- Breakfast: Cream of wheat with a side of honeydew melon cubes
- Lunch: Turkey sandwich on sourdough bread, applesauce
- Dinner: Orecchiette pasta
Option Three
You can’t eat any solid foods the day before a colonoscopy, according to Kaiser Permanente. Instead, you’ll need to follow a clear liquid diet, which includes fluids like:
- Pulp-free juice like white grape or apple
- Electrolyte sports drinks (light colors)
- Clear sodas like ginger ale
- Tea or coffee (without milk or cream)
- Low-residue desserts like ice pops, fruit ice, fruit-flavored gelatin, or Jell-O
- Clear soups and broths like vegetable, beef, and chicken broth or bouillon
- Clear nutrition or protein drinks
That doesn’t mean you can have just any liquids the day before a colonoscopy, though. Steer clear of the following foods that can leave residue in your colon, such as:
Read also: Gut Health on Carnivore Diet
- Milk and other dairy products
- Juice with pulp, like orange or prune juice
- Ice pops made with chunks of real fruit
- Soups with vegetables, noodles, rice, or cream
- Anything pureed that is cloudy or creamy
- Alcohol
- Red, blue, and purple liquids
You’ll also take a prep laxative the day before (and usually the day of) your colonoscopy to flush out the remaining contents of your colon, according to Kaiser Permanente. Follow the instructions on your prescribed laxative, and take it at home, where you’ll have constant access to a bathroom.
What to Expect the Day Of Your Colonoscopy
You’ll have to stop drinking any liquids - including water - about two hours before the exam. Have a loved one drive you to and from your procedure. You’ll be sedated for the exam, which typically lasts about 30 minutes, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Afterward, you’ll chat with your doctor in the recovery room to discuss any findings. If they took a biopsy of your colon, you should get those results within a few weeks.
You can eat solid foods again right after your procedure. Here are some anti-cancer diet tips to keep in mind:
- Eat mostly plant-based meals.
- Limit red meat and stay away from ultraprocessed meats like bacon and sausage.
- Eat plenty of fiber.
- Limit alcohol.
Even if you have a healthy lifestyle, make sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations about getting regular colonoscopies. The American Cancer Society suggests having your first screening at age 45 if you are at average risk, with exams every 10 years after that. If your doctor considers you to be at higher risk due to genetics or a family history of gastrointestinal disease, check with them about how often you should have your exam.
Low-Residue Diet vs. Low-Fiber Diet
Although low-fiber and low-residue diets are commonly used interchangeably, they are two separate diets. A low-fiber diet restricts daily fiber intake below dietary recommendations, while a low-residue diet restricts any food - including fiber and dairy - that can contribute to the build-up of intestinal residue. Residue, in this case, refers to the undigested foods that can clog up the gastrointestinal tract and add bulk to the stool, leading to bloating, gas, diarrhea and cramping.
Potential Risks of a Low-Fiber Diet
This diet is restrictive and may be unsafe for some people. A low-residue diet (for colonoscopies or other procedures) should be followed for only a short period of time unless your doctor recommends otherwise, according to the Mayo Clinic. It doesn’t supply enough fiber and other nutrients to keep you nourished in the long term. This diet may be unsafe for some people.
While the low-residue diet may help ease gastrointestinal symptoms, it still comes with risks:
- The low-residue diet lacks enough nutrients to keep you healthy.
- High amounts of starch-heavy foods may lead to weight gain.
- Starchy foods can cause blood sugar spikes, making it hard to manage blood sugar if you have diabetes.
- Constipation can occur, especially if you don’t drink enough fluid.
Alternatives and Considerations
While on a low-fiber diet, you may need to take extra vitamins and minerals. Your doctor and dietitian can help you design a low-fiber diet based on your health and what you prefer to eat. Ask your doctor how long you should stay on a low-fiber diet. Your doctor probably will have you start adding more fiber to your diet as you get better.
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