A low fiber diet may be recommended preoperatively, in the preparation of some tests such as colonoscopy or in cases of diarrhea or intestinal inflammation, such as diverticulitis or, for example, crohn's disease.
A diet low in fiber facilitates the entire digestion process and also greatly reduces gastric movements, reducing pain in the event of intestinal inflammation, in addition to reducing the formation of stools and gases which is important, especially before some types of surgery with general anesthesia, for example.
Low fiber food
Some of the poorest fiber foods that can be included in this type of diet are:
- Skimmed milk or yogurt; Fish, chicken and turkey meat; White bread, toast, well-cooked white rice; Cooked pumpkin or carrot; Peeled and uncooked fruit such as banana, pear or apple.
In addition to giving preference to foods that do not have a lot of fiber, food preparation is another important strategy for reducing the amount of fiber in the food, cooking and removing the peel of all foods that are consumed.
During this poor diet it is important to eliminate raw fruits and vegetables, as well as legumes, such as beans or peas, because they are foods with many fibers and that stimulate the functioning of the intestine.
To learn more about the foods to avoid in a low fiber diet read: Foods high in fiber.
Low fiber diet menu
An example of a low fiber diet menu could be:
- Breakfast - White bread with skim milk. Lunch - Soup with carrot. Cooked pear for dessert, peeled. Snack - Apple and pear puree with toast. Dinner - Hake cooked with rice and pumpkin puree. For dessert, baked apple, without peel.
This diet should be done for 2-3 days, until the intestine regains its functioning, so if it does not improve during this period, it is important to consult the gastroenterologist.
Diet low in fiber and waste
The low-residue diet is an even more restrictive diet than the low-fiber diet and no fruits or vegetables can be eaten.
This diet should be done only with medical indication and with nutritional supervision because it is nutritionally incomplete and you can only eat lean meat broths, strained fruit juices, gelatin and teas.
Generally, a diet low in fiber and waste is intended for patients preoperatively or in preparation of the intestine for surgery or some diagnostic examination or shortly after surgery.
