A low-fiber diet is often recommended in specific medical situations. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the MNGI (Minnesota Gastroenterology) low-fiber diet guidelines, explaining its purpose, permitted and restricted foods, and important considerations for patients undergoing procedures like colonoscopies.
Understanding the Low-Fiber Diet
Fiber, the indigestible part of fruits, vegetables, and grains, adds bulk to the stool and aids in regular bowel movements. A low-fiber diet intentionally restricts the intake of these foods. This dietary approach aims to reduce stool volume and slow down bowel movements, which can be beneficial in certain circumstances.
When is a Low-Fiber Diet Recommended?
A healthcare professional may recommend a low-fiber diet for several reasons, including:
- Narrowing of the bowel: When the bowel is narrowed, high-fiber foods can exacerbate discomfort and potential blockages.
- Treatment damaging or irritating the digestive system: Certain medical treatments can irritate the digestive system, and a low-fiber diet can minimize further irritation.
- Preparing for a colonoscopy: Patients undergoing bowel preparation for a colonoscopy should follow a low-fiber diet 3 days prior to their procedure to help make the cleanout more effective.
It's important to note that low-fiber diets are usually temporary. Because a low-fiber diet limits what you can eat, it can be difficult to meet your nutritional needs. If you must continue eating this diet for a longer time, consult a registered dietitian.
Foods Allowed on a Low-Fiber Diet
The goal of a low fiber diet is to choose foods that are easy for your body to digest. When following a low-fiber diet, the following foods are generally permitted:
Read also: High-Fiber Diet for Better Health
- Dairy: Milk, cheese, and yogurt.
- Protein: Meat, fish, and eggs.
- Refined Grains: Plain white bread, white rice, crackers.
- Cooked Vegetables: Prepare all foods so that they're tender. Good cooking methods include simmering, poaching, stewing, steaming and braising.
- Certain Fruits: Fruit without skin or seeds.
Foods to Avoid on a Low-Fiber Diet
To adhere to a low-fiber diet, it is important to avoid foods that are high in fiber. These include:
- High-Fiber Foods: Beans, whole grains, raw vegetables, berries, nuts, and seeds.
Important Considerations for MNGI Patients
Pre-Colonoscopy Low-Fiber Diet
Patients undergoing bowel preparation for colonoscopy should follow a low fiber diet 3 days prior to their procedure to help make the cleanout more effective.
Clear Liquid Diet
In addition to the low-fiber diet, a clear liquid diet is often prescribed before certain medical procedures, including colonoscopies. A clear liquid diet consists of liquids that you can see through (NO red). Foods can be considered liquid if they partly or completely melt to liquid at room temperature. You can't eat solid food while on a clear liquid diet. A clear liquid diet maintains vital body fluids, salts, and minerals; however, it is not adequate in calories and nutrients and should not be used for more than one day, unless specified by your provider. Be sure to follow the clear liquid diet carefully before your procedure. If you don’t follow the diet, you risk getting inaccurate results or having your procedure cancelled. It is important you do not consume any red colored liquids because it may cause misleading procedure results. One 8 fl. oz. You can have up to one 8 fl. oz. We do not recommend consuming kombucha or coconut water during colonoscopy preparation.
Hydration
Staying hydrated is very important while on a clear liquid diet and preparing for a colonoscopy. Although you are drinking a lot of fluid, much of it is not absorbed during the preparation. To avoid constipation, you may need to drink extra fluids. Colon Cleansing Tips: Drink adequate amounts of fluid before and after your colon cleansing to prevent dehydration. Stay near a toilet because you will have diarrhea. Even if you are sitting on the toilet, continue to drink the cleansing solution every 15 minutes.
Medications and Supplements
Discontinue fiber supplements and medications containing iron. Iron can turn stool dark and tarry, which can impair visualization during the procedure. We want you to have the most effective prep results. A MNGI RN will be determining if you need to hold your blood thinning medication and will work with your monitoring provider if needed (Ex: Coumadin/Warfarin, Xarelto, Eliquis, Plavix, etc.) before your procedure. A MNGI RN will be reaching out to you to inform you whether you need to hold this medication or not. You cannot ingest CBD oil while on a clear liquid diet. Doing so will result in procedure cancellation.
Read also: Guide to Keto Fiber
Bowel Preparation
Fill your prescription for NuLytely® at your local pharmacy. Please call our office 612-871-1145 if you did not receive a prescription. At 6pm: Drink 1 (one) 8 oz. glass of NuLytely® solution every 15 minutes until half the bottle (approximately 8 - 8 oz. glasses) is gone. Keep the solution refrigerated. 6 hours prior: Drink 1 (one) 8 oz. glass of NuLytely® solution every 15 minutes until the remaining solution (approximately 8- 8 oz glasses) is gone. You are ready for the procedure if you followed all instructions and your stool is no longer formed, but clear or yellow liquid. If you feel nauseous or vomit, rinse your mouth with water, take a 15 to 30-minute break and then continue drinking the solution. You will be uncomfortable until the stool has flushed from your colon (in about 2-4 hours).
Magnesium Citrate is a laxative product that helps to ensure the colon is entirely cleansed prior to a colonoscopy. If you are unable to obtain Magnesium Citrate from MNGI, please contact us at 612-871-1145 for an alternative prep option. If you do not complete approved prep prior to your colonoscopy, your procedure may be cancelled or rescheduled. Yes, it is important to finish all of the prep to ensure a proper clean out of your colon. You may begin prep two hours early or end two hours late if additional time is needed to consume prep. When you are finished with your prep you should not have any solid stool, only clear liquid stool. You should be able to see to the bottom of the toilet bowl.
Important Reminders for the Day of the Procedure
Day of your procedureYou may take all of your morning medications including blood pressure medications, blood thinners (if you have not been instructed to stop these by our office), methadone, anti-seizure medications with sips of water 3 hours prior to your procedure or earlier. Continue the Clear Liquid Diet up to 3 hours prior to your procedure, then stop drinking. Avoid red liquids, dairy products, protein shakes, alcoholic beverages, chewing tobacco and illicit drugs. The day of the procedure you will be assessed by the Anesthesiologist, who will listen to your heart and your lungs and determine if you are safe to proceed in our settings. If you are having flu-like symptoms (such as fever, cough, shortness of breath) within 14 days of your appointment, please call to reschedule. If you develop COVID-19, are exposed to COVID-19 or have COVID-19 like symptoms at any point after you schedule this appointment, please call our office to determine if it is okay to proceed with your visit.
Post-Procedure Information
Some patients may experience temporary memory loss after the procedure due to use of monitored anesthesia care. Although serious complications are rare, any medical procedure has the potential for risks. You may feel cramping and gas-like pain. Small pieces of tissue (biopsy or polyps) may have been removed and sent to the pathology department for review. Bleeding from your polyp removal may occur up to two weeks after your procedure. Any tissue samples or polyps removed during the procedure will be sent to a lab for evaluation. Your referring provider will receive a copy of the pathology results. You will not be able to drive a car, operate machinery, or go to work until the following day.
- If you have redness or swelling where the medications were given, place a warm, wet washcloth over the affected area for 20 minutes, 3 times a day until the redness subsides.
Responsible Adult Requirement
You must arrange for a responsible person to escort you to your procedure and stay at our facility for the duration of your procedure. A taxi ride is not an option unless you are accompanied by a responsible person. A responsible adult needs to be with you at check-in, available throughout the duration of your procedure, and accompany you home to help you with follow up care. It takes about 2 hours from check-in to discharge. You will not be able to drive a car, use machinery, or go to work until the next day. We ask all patients to have a responsible adult with them upon discharge, this includes app-based ride services (i.e.Uber/Lyft) or other taxi services (including medical taxis) to assist you home safely. Failure to bring a responsible adult may result in your appointment being rescheduled. This needs to be arranged before your procedure. If the patient is under 18 or has a legal guardian, we ask that all legal guardians remain on-site throughout the duration of the procedure (admission, procedure, discharge).
Read also: Gut Health on Carnivore Diet
Advance Directives
Advance Directives: If you have an Advance Directive, please bring a copy of your Advance Directive with you to your endoscopy appointment. Advance Directives are not honored at MNGI facilities, and in the event of a life-threatening situation, life support measures will be instituted in every instance and our patients will be transported to a higher level of care facility (i.e., hospital).
Additional Information
Insurance and Billing
MNGI Digestive Health strives to be consistent and compliant with the federal coding regulations set forth by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Depending on the services which were provided during your visit, you may receive more than one statement for the same date of service. Some procedures have professional and technical components, which are billed separately. For example, if you have a procedure such as a colonoscopy, you can expect to receive more than one bill. MNGI Digestive Health (Minnesota Gastroenterology) facilities are certified by Medicare and follow strict guidelines for facility (or technical) charges. The facility charge on your statement includes administrative and record-keeping services, housekeeping items and services, nursing services, services of technical personnel, facility use (preoperative areas, operating/procedure room and recovery room), diagnostic and therapeutic items/supplies, and anesthesia materials and supplies.
Referrals
A referral, for health insurance purposes, is a written authorization prepared by the primary care provider or clinic and sent to the insurance plan to recommend that the patient see another health care provider (often a specialist). For many appointments at MNGI Digestive Health, you do not need a primary care or clinician referral to be seen by a member of our care team. However, we recommend checking with your insurance company to ensure that your plan doesn’t have a referral requirement, for your visit to be covered.
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