In fact, most of the low-residue diet foods on a colonoscopy prep list are animal foods. So you probably wonder what a vegan can eat before a colonoscopy.
Disclaimer: This article shouldn’t take over the medical instruction given by your gastroenterologist. This food list is provided as a vegan food suggestion to decrease fiber in your bowel before a colonoscopy. However, you must validate with your gastroenterologist that the food listed below is in accordance with its requirement for a successful colonoscopy prep. Below we listed some of the best vegan colonoscopy prep foods you can eat to decrease fibers on your vegan diet.
Why a colonoscopy?
Studies show that vegan and vegetarian diets are associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer. However, as a vegan, your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy for any reason like:
Abdominal pain Rectal bleeding Chronic gut issues like diarrhea, constipation Screen for colon cancer
What’s a colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a visual examination of the digestive system using a narrow flexible tube called a colonoscope. It’s an important exam to diagnose and treat bowel conditions. To obtain a good image of the bowel lining, the bowels must be empty. That’s why doctors ask to prepare by following a strict low residue diet before the exam.
Vegan colonoscopy prep
The vegan colonoscopy prep is two steps:
Low-residue diet – 2 to 6 days before the exam. The timeframe depends on the gastroenterology center you booked your exam. Follow the timeframe provided by your gastroenterologist. The low residue diet, also known as a low fiber diet, is a diet designed to reduce the amount of stool in your large intestine. It’s a temporary diet that helps ‘rest’ your bowels and prepares for colon exams. Liquid diet – on the day of the examination. The liquid diet consists of cleansing the bowel drinking a preparation called Glycoprep. During a liquid diet, you will only drink clear fluid, no solid food.
Low-residue diet – 2 days to 1 week before
Depending on the gastroenterology center where you perform the exam, y0u will be asked to follow a low-residue vegan diet for 2 to 6 days before the colonoscopy.
Food you can eat
A-low residue diet focus on low-fiber food. The best low-fiber vegan diet for colonoscopy are:
Rice bubbles or cornflakes White flour products like bread, pasta, plain tinned spaghetti. White rice Plain vegan biscuits like arrowroot or wine biscuits. Plain crackers – no wholemeal or multi-grain. Plain scones – no sultanas, no dates. Potatoes Oil, margarine Dairy-free products like almond milk, coconut milk, hemp milk, dairy-free plain soy yogurt. Clear liquid – like water, coconut water, tea, coffee, lemon-flavored energy drinks light in color – no red, green, or purple drinks. Lemon ice blocks and sorbet Vegan jellies, barley sugars, and boiled candies. Strained fruit juice
Foods to avoid
The vegan foods you shouldn’t eat on a low-fiber diet are listed below. These foods contain a high quantity of fiber per serving and build up in the digestive tract making your bowel surgery difficult. Avoid the below ingredients before a colonoscopy:
Fruits – including dried fruits. Vegetables – no vegetables except skinless potatoes. Nuts and seeds Beans or legumes like black beans, chickpeas, hummus, corn kernel, lentils. Multi-grain cereals or bread-like oats, muesli.
Liquid diet – the day of the exam
On the day of the exam, you will follow a vegan colonoscopy liquid diet. It means that only clear fluid can be consumed along with the liquid bowel cleansing preparation your gastroenterologist prescribes. On a liquid diet before a colonoscopy, you can drink:
Coffee and tea without plant-based milk. Lemon-flavored energy drinks without colors. Carbonated drinks without colors. Lemon ice blocks Light-colored jellies Barley sugars Boiled sweets No highly colored drinks like red, purple, or green.
You will be given a specific time at which you must stop drinking any fluids before the exam, usually a few hours before the colonoscopy starts. Follow the directions provided by your specialist for success.
Other vegan foods you should avoid before colonoscopy
On a vegan diet, we often supplement our bodies with medication and foods. You should not take before a colonoscopy the following :
iron tablets multi-vitamins protein powders pre-workout drinks
All these foods should be discontinued before the test. Ask the specialist about the timeframe. Sometimes you may be asked to stop iron tablets a week before the procedure.
After the colonoscopy
After the exams, you will be able to return to a normal diet. It’s recommended to start with small amounts and low-fat food. Some great plant-based foods to eat after the colonoscopy are:
Vegetable broth with noodle White bread and margarine Berries and plant-based yogurt Apple juice or strained juice Banana
Depending on your exam results, you may be asked to follow a vegan low FODMAP diet to release some gut discomfort. All multi-vitamins and food supplements after the completion of the exams.
