Colonoscopy Diet Sheet helps you prepare for the day when the test will be taken, just like several medical, other procedures that require an inside examination of your body.

Key Takeaways
  • Patients are recommended to take colonoscopy diet 3 to 5 days prior to the examination.
  • You should be taking easy to digest and easy to bowel diets during 1 to third day.
  • On fourth day, start with medications prescribed by your GP.
  • On 5th day keep stomach empty until the tests are done.

Below we are adding all about Colonoscopy, the diet sheet, and the questions occurring in your mind regarding this.

What is Colonoscopy Diet?

Colonoscopy is a procedure in which a device is penetrated into your rectum colon to examine the abnormalities inside your body.

The device is based on a thin, flexible tube that goes through the way where the small bowel ends. This device has a digital camera that helps experts look for abnormalities.

As it is a direct visualization test, the pathway from the rectum to the cecum shouldn’t contain any stool residue to make the examination complicated or unclear.

That is the reason a special Colonoscopy diet sheet is recommended for people before the procedure. The colonoscopy prep diet is based on easily digestible food items.

“Patients are recommended to start their colonoscopy diet 3 to 5 days before the actual procedure.”

Here is a complete diet chart followed by particular diet queries sent to us from inmates.

Colonoscopy Diet Sheet

Read this before you go through the foods to eat or avoid before the endoscopy:

1.   It is a Low Residue Diet:

A low residue diet helps bowel rest during diverticulitis and inflammatory bowel diseases. In other words, you can say it helps minimize diarrhea, like a flushed bowel movement.

2.   Start Before 5 Days:

You will have to start eating according to Colonoscopy Diet Sheet 4 days before the actual day of your examination. This will continue for three days.

3.   On Day 4, Take Prep Medications:

On the fourth day, doctors will prescribe you specific colonoscopy prep medications. This will continue for 2 days, and the actual procedure will be conducted on the fifth day.

4.   Clear All Fluids 3 Hours Before Procedure:

On the fifth day, which is also the day of your colonoscopy, clearing all the fluids from your bowel is mandatory. You stop eating or drinking anything after that.

Here is the Colonoscopy Diet Sheet, including foods to consume and how to conduct yourself until the procedure is done.

5.   Diet Before Colonoscopy:

Low Residue Diet Before Colonoscopy
Carbohydrate White bread, rolls, white muffins, crumpets, white pita bread, plain bagels, arrowroot biscuits, and cornflakes
Rice Rice bubbles, white rice, white pasta, couscous, polenta
Fruits Two fruits from Bananas, paw-paw, canned peaches, squash, canned apples
Vegetables Cooked pumpkin, potato, marrow
Chicken Boiled/steamed/grilled chicken
Seafood Salmon and tuna
Poultry Eggs
Dairy Milk-made tea or coffee, milk-added cereals, vanilla milkshakes, ice cream, etc. (Make sure to use this stuff in moderation).
Low-fat dairy Margarine or butter spreads, plain yogurt or vanilla yogurt, cottage cheese, plain cheese
Plant milk Soy milk, tofu made of soy
Juices Fruit juices with no pulp
Jams and spreads Honey, syrup, marmalade,  seedless jam
Caffeinated beverages Tea, coffee
Spices and seasonings Salt, pepper, sugar, dried herbs & spices, oils, mayonnaise, gravies, and sauces

You will also consume items for fluid cleaning according to Colonoscopy Diet Sheet because your bowel should be free from all sorts of residue and liquids on the colonoscopy day.

Clear Fluid Diet Before Colonoscopy
Jelly Don’t add green, red, or purple
Soups Chicken broth (only)
Juice Apple juice (no pulp)
Water At least 12  glasses of 10 ounces each
Black Tea In moderation
Clear soft drinks In moderation
Flavored squash Made of fruits (No red, green, blue, or purple)
Gatorade Orange or yellow (no pulp)
Lucozade & Bonox In moderation

Please note that all the items mentioned in the above two columns are the sole diets you can consume before colonoscopy.

This Colonoscopy Diet Sheet is prescribed by experts to help conduct the procedure in the right and accurate manner, and no substitution is accepted for any of the items.

What Foods Can You Eat 3 Days Before a Colonoscopy?

To clean the colon, a high intake of clear fluid is recommended. We have mentioned a complete diet for colonoscopy; now, here is a day-to-day procedure:

On the First Day:

On day 1, you are recommended to stick with the food items prescribed in the colonoscopy diet sheet above.

Remember that if you do not follow the low residue diet strictly, the preparation for the procedure will lose its effectiveness. As a result, the whole can be affected, and doctors might have to repeat it.

Besides, you can also be prescribed to use medications while preparing yourself for rectum endoscopy, such as iron tablets. However, you should consult an expert for details in this regard because it is recommended according to the individual needs of different patients.

On the Second and Third Day:

There are no changes in your diet for the second and third days prior to your colonoscopy. Choose items from the Colonoscopy Diet Sheet based on low residue and easily digestible items.

However, you will have to increase your liquid intake. This should better be pure water. However, you can choose any liquid from the abovementioned tables.

Once again, ensure that the liquids you consume are clear and juices have no pulp, while you don’t try to substitute any item from the list.

At the end of the third day, you will not consume a low residue colonoscopy diet and start getting ready for the day 4 routine.

On the 4th Day:

Your breakfast should be light. You cannot choose items from the above list. Now, as you are coming near to the endoscopy process, so you will have to be more specific.

  • For breakfast, consume toast with black tea.

Choose any spread from butter, margarine, honey, seedless jam, or vegemite for toast. Nothing else can be used.

  • In the afternoon, take one sachet of Picosalax and mix it in 150 ml water. Stir for three minutes evenly, and then gulp.

This is not all. For the next three hours, you can consume clear liquids mentioned in the Colonoscopy Diet Sheet, up to 750 ml.

  • At night, Repeat the after-noon procedure, including drinking Picosalax and mixing it in 150 ml water and consuming 750 mL clear liquids before going to sleep.

On the 5th Day:

This is the day when the colonoscopy procedure will take place. So, now you require to remove all sorts of fluids from your bowel for a precise examination for any complications.

You can consume clear liquids.

However, three hours before the procedure, your bowel should be clear.

After that, you will not eat or drink anything unless the procedure has been taken.

What to Eat After Endoscopy and Colonoscopy?

You will be recommended a regular diet by your physician after colonoscopy. The further medications or foods you will be recommended based on the results came in the colonoscopy.

Besides this, you will be taking certain medicines in case you are suffering from any chronic health issues after the colonoscopy is done.

For instance:

  • If you have diabetes, contact experts so they can suggest medicines to consume before or after you consume regular food.
  • If you are on insulin, make sure to take suggestions and recommendations from the experts in this regard to avoid any health complications.
  • If you take anticoagulant therapy, use medicines accordingly.

*Look, Broad doesn’t promote suggesting medicines without proper examination of the individuals.

Can I Eat Garlic Before Colonoscopy?

No, Garlic is a no-n0 before the colonoscopy. Besides that, valerian root, garlic, and ginger are also a big no. Why is that so?

Garlic consumption can end up in blood clotting. Therefore, stop using it in foods or as raw 7 days before the endoscopy procedure. Besides, garlic is not added to the Colonoscopy Diet Sheet.

Can I Eat Normally 2 Days Before Colonoscopy?

No. For the first five days, you will start using the prescribed Low Residue Diet. This will help you remove residue from your colon for a better examination.

A complete list of foods you should consume 2 days before a colonoscopy is mentioned in the Colonoscopy Diet Sheet.

What is a Light Breakfast Before a Colonoscopy?

One toast enhanced with butter, margarine, honey, seedless jam, or vegemite spread will be consumed with one cup of tea. It helps remove liquids easily.

Can I Have Honey Before a Colonoscopy?

Yes. As honey is added to the list of Colonoscopy Diet Sheets, you can consume it. However, make sure that its quantity is used in moderation.

Can I Have Black Pepper Before Colonoscopy?

No, all kinds of seeds are prohibited from consumption before the colposcopy. Along with black pepper, the list includes sesame or poppy seeds, strawberries, corn, or tomato skins.

Bottom Line

Here, the discussion on Colonoscopy Diet Sheets comes to an end. Finally, we would like to inform you that the list is prepared after consulting with experts. Following it will help you go through the successful procedure of rectum endoscopy.

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Last Updated on November 22, 2022