Low Fiber Diet For Colonoscopy: What You Have To Prepare?

Colonoscopy is a procedure used to examine your rectum and colon. The method is used to identify the changes such as swollen, irritated issues and colon cancer.

Doctors suggest doing a colonoscopy for middle-aged and older adults to screen for cancer. It is similar to an endoscopy that uses an endoscope.

A tube with a lighted camera is inserted into your body. The video camera is used to view the inside of the entire colon.

During this procedure, a colonoscope passes through your anus and rectum into your colon. It sends pictures of the inside of your large intestine to the screen. 

What Is The Relation Between Fiber Diet And Colonoscopy?

Do you know the relationship between a fiber diet and a colonoscopy? If you are not aware of the connection between fiber intake and colonoscopy, the article will guide you to everything you need to know about a fiber diet for colonoscopy.

Before the colonoscopy,  your doctor would suggest some instructions you must follow. The instructions make the procedure easier and get accurate results.

The first thing you have to do before the procedure is to limit the fiber intake a few days before emptying your colon. You have to follow the instructions correctly to get accurate results.  

What Is Fiber?

As you all know that fiber is a type of carbohydrate that your body can’t digest. An adequate amount of fiber is good for your heart health.  Fiber has a vital role in a healthy diet and it supports many different body systems.

There are many different types of fiber. Some of them are good for your health and others are mostly useless. However, fiber is broadly classified into two types. The classification comes under its water solubility. They are,

• Soluble fiber

Soluble fiber dissolves in the water. It’s a gel-like material that helps to lower cholesterol as well as glucose levels. Foods such as oats, peas, apples, fruits, carrots, barley, and fruits are some examples of soluble fiber.

• Insoluble fiber

As the name suggests, Insoluble fiber doesn’t dissolve in water. It helps to speed up the passage of foods through the stomach and adds bulk to the stool.  Wheat, bran, vegetables, and whole grains are insoluble fiber foods. 

Health Benefits Of Fiber

As aforementioned, dietary fiber is essential for a healthy diet. An adequate amount of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains have several health benefits. Here are the health benefits of a fiber diet. 

• Helps to maintain a healthy weight
• Control blood sugar levels
• It helps to lower cholesterol levels
• Helps to lead a healthy life
• Maintain bowel health
• Normalize bowel movements

What Are The Causes Of Eating Too Much Fiber?

If you include too much fiber in your daily intake, it may damage your body. Doctors recommend taking 25 grams of fiber daily is good for your health, especially for women.

When it comes to men, taking 38 grams of fiber per day is healthy. What if it increases? It can lead to several side effects and health conditions. A person with too much fiber in the body might experience the following symptoms.

• Nausea
• Sudden weight gain
• Lack of key nutrients
• Constipation
• Stomach cramps
• Intestinal blockage
• Gas trouble
• Bloating

Why Do Doctors Prefer To Follow A Low-fiber Diet Before The Colonoscopy?

Non-fiber diet is essential for a colonoscopy. As aforementioned,  It makes the procedure easier and gives more accurate results. So emptying the colon and cleansing the entire area is essential before the process is mandatory.

If you eat high-fiber foods, it can leave residue in your colon and your doctor can’t observe the polyps and other issues. Polyps are a type of cell that forms on the lining of the colon. 

Most polyps are harmless to your body. Therefore, your doctor needs to examine this. The further tests are based on the presence of the polyps. That’s why doctors suggest that follow a low-fiber diet before your appointment. 

What To Avoid Before Your Colonoscopy?

Your physician will ask you to avoid certain fiber-rich foods before the colonoscopy. They also substitute with foods that are high in protein and easily digestible, tender, and well-cooked. Some of the foods that you completely avoid before the procedure are,

• Corn
• Whole grain (brown or wild rice, buckwheat, and cornbread) 
• Prunes
• Pickles
• Foods that contain seeds or nuts
• Dried fruit
• Red or purple-colored drinks or foods
• Nuts, seeds, and beans
• Strawberries, raspberries, pears, apples
• Kale
• Almonds
• Celery 

What Foods You Can Eat Before A Colonoscopy?

You can eat clear liquids such as clear soft drinks, sports drinks, black coffee or tea, clear broth, or bouillon before the colonoscopy procedure. You can add well-cooked lean beef, pork, ham, and lamb to your meal. 

White rice, noodles, and white pasta are great options before the colonoscopy procedure. Here are the categories and a list of foods that you can eat before the colonoscopy. 

Vegetables

• Lettuce
• Strained vegetable juice
• Peeled potatoes
• Vegetables such as carrots, green or wax beans, pumpkin, and spinach. (vegetables without seeds are highly preferable)

Fruits

• Fruit juice without pulp
• Fully ripe bananas and melons
• Cooked fruit without skin or seed
• Applesauce
• Ripe honeydew

Snacks and sweets

• Plain cookies
• Popsicles
• Pretzels
• Low-fat ice cream
• Gelatin
• Plain pudding or custard

Milk and milk products

• Low-fat cheeses (cottage cheese)
• Low-fat ice cream
• Custard
•  Sherbet
• Powdered milk
• Buttermilk
• Yogurt
• Plain milk
• Hot chocolate

Bread and grains

• Plain crackers
• Low-fiber cereal (puffed rice, cream of wheat, cornflakes)
• Bread and grains made with refined white flour

Soups

• Cream based soup
• Consomme, bouillon, broth and strained soup

Other

• Syrup
• Honey
• Lemon juice
• Jelly
• Salt 
• sugar

Best Low-Fiber Recipe Before The Colonoscopy

You can make plenty of low-fiber recipes. But when it comes to colonoscopy preparations, you also check about the ingredients before adding them to the recipe. Following are the best low-fiber recipe you can experiment with before you make an appointment. 

• Ricotta pancakes
• Poached eggs on white toast with butter
• Creamy chicken pasta
• Turkey  and Balsamic Glaze Sandwiches
• Rice crackers with Feta and Balsamic Gaze
• Miso-Glazed Maji- Maji
• Herb Bundle