7 Things to Avoid Before a Colonoscopy
7 Things to Avoid Before a Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy prep is one of the most laughed about, complained about, and stressed about steps of the colonoscopy process. While it’s nobody’s favorite step, prep is necessary to clear the rectum and colon before the procedure. An incomplete bowel prep could mean missed polyps, while a successful prep allows for better visibility during the colonoscopy. This leads to a higher chance of doctors seeing polyps, tumors, and inflammation in your colon.
Your doctor’s prep instructions may slightly differ from another doctor’s instructions, and it’s important to follow the instructions you’ve been given. However if you’re hoping to set yourself up for a clear colonoscopy, here are several foods to avoid at least three days before your procedure.
1. Strawberry Smoothies
For three days before a colonoscopy, it is recommended that you follow a low-fiber diet and avoid anything containing nuts and seeds, including seeds inside treats, smoothies, fresh fruits and veggies. Nuts and seeds contain insoluble fiber, which provides bulk in your stool. Avoiding them will help you more easily clear out your bowel. You don’t need to cancel a procedure if you eat nuts a few days before your scope, but it’s recommended that you avoid them to get a more complete prep.
2. Veggie Trays
Avoid fruits and vegetables with seeds or indigestible fiber since they are difficult to digest and may interfere with your doctor’s ability to examine your colon. This applies to both raw and steamed fruits and vegetables, as well as fruit and veggies in smoothies.
A good rule of thumb: If you cannot see through it, if it has pulp, or contains anything that you need to chew in order to swallow, then do not drink it a few days before a colonoscopy.
3. Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol during the prep process. Although many spirits are technically clear, alcohol is dehydrating, and you will already be losing a lot of fluids due to the colonoscopy prep. You can avoid dehydration by drinking GatoradeⓇ (not red, purple, or blue), and other drinks with plenty of electrolytes.
Alcohol may interact with the sedatives used during the procedure. Avoid all alcoholic beverages regardless if they are clear or not until after your procedure.
4. Foods with red, purple, or blue dyes
Many doctors ask patients to avoid drinks that contain red, purple, or blue coloring can stain the walls of your colon. During your colonoscopy, these stains can interfere with the test and look like blood or other abnormalities. To ensure you get accurate results, avoid drinks with certain coloring during your colonoscopy prep if your doctor’s instructions say to avoid.
5. Milkshakes
Milk products are permitted up until the day before a colonoscopy, when you need to drink only clear liquids. Similar to how certain dyes can affect your colonoscopy, traces of milk can hide a possible polyp in the walls of the colon. Avoid milk, milkshakes, coffee creamer, and other dairy products the day before your colonoscopy.
6. Whole Grains
Granola, oats, multi-grain breads, quinoa, and other grains are full of fiber. It’s recommended to avoid these foods around three days prior to a colonoscopy so you have a more effective colonoscopy prep process. They are typically safe (and encouraged) to resume following your procedure.
7. Steak
Avoid tough meats like steak and pork a few days before your colonoscopy, as they take longer to break down in the colon. For your protein, stick with foods like eggs, ground meat, and fish, or well-cooked proteins, until your colonoscopy is complete.
It is important to properly prepare for a colonoscopy so your doctor can get a good look inside your colon and accurately screen for colorectal cancer. Although a strawberry smoothie or a chocolate bar with nuts may sound great the days leading up to your colonoscopy, avoid them until you’ve been given the all clear.
If you have specific questions about diets and prep instructions, be sure to call your doctor’s office.
Colonoscopy prep is one of the most laughed about, complained about, and stressed about steps of the colonoscopy process. While it’s nobody’s favorite step, prep is necessary to clear the rectum and colon before the procedure. An incomplete bowel prep could mean missed polyps, while a successful prep allows for better visibility during the colonoscopy. This leads to a higher chance of doctors seeing polyps, tumors, and inflammation in your colon.
Your doctor’s prep instructions may slightly differ from another doctor’s instructions, and it’s important to follow the instructions you’ve been given. However if you’re hoping to set yourself up for a clear colonoscopy, here are several foods to avoid at least three days before your procedure.
1. Strawberry Smoothies
For three days before a colonoscopy, it is recommended that you follow a low-fiber diet and avoid anything containing nuts and seeds, including seeds inside treats, smoothies, fresh fruits and veggies. Nuts and seeds contain insoluble fiber, which provides bulk in your stool. Avoiding them will help you more easily clear out your bowel. You don’t need to cancel a procedure if you eat nuts a few days before your scope, but it’s recommended that you avoid them to get a more complete prep.
2. Veggie Trays
Avoid fruits and vegetables with seeds or indigestible fiber since they are difficult to digest and may interfere with your doctor’s ability to examine your colon. This applies to both raw and steamed fruits and vegetables, as well as fruit and veggies in smoothies.
A good rule of thumb: If you cannot see through it, if it has pulp, or contains anything that you need to chew in order to swallow, then do not drink it a few days before a colonoscopy.
3. Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol during the prep process. Although many spirits are technically clear, alcohol is dehydrating, and you will already be losing a lot of fluids due to the colonoscopy prep. You can avoid dehydration by drinking GatoradeⓇ (not red, purple, or blue), and other drinks with plenty of electrolytes.
Alcohol may interact with the sedatives used during the procedure. Avoid all alcoholic beverages regardless if they are clear or not until after your procedure.
4. Foods with red, purple, or blue dyes
Many doctors ask patients to avoid drinks that contain red, purple, or blue coloring can stain the walls of your colon. During your colonoscopy, these stains can interfere with the test and look like blood or other abnormalities. To ensure you get accurate results, avoid drinks with certain coloring during your colonoscopy prep if your doctor’s instructions say to avoid.
5. Milkshakes
Milk products are permitted up until the day before a colonoscopy, when you need to drink only clear liquids. Similar to how certain dyes can affect your colonoscopy, traces of milk can hide a possible polyp in the walls of the colon. Avoid milk, milkshakes, coffee creamer, and other dairy products the day before your colonoscopy.
6. Whole Grains
Granola, oats, multi-grain breads, quinoa, and other grains are full of fiber. It’s recommended to avoid these foods around three days prior to a colonoscopy so you have a more effective colonoscopy prep process. They are typically safe (and encouraged) to resume following your procedure.
7. Steak
Avoid tough meats like steak and pork a few days before your colonoscopy, as they take longer to break down in the colon. For your protein, stick with foods like eggs, ground meat, and fish, or well-cooked proteins, until your colonoscopy is complete.
It is important to properly prepare for a colonoscopy so your doctor can get a good look inside your colon and accurately screen for colorectal cancer. Although a strawberry smoothie or a chocolate bar with nuts may sound great the days leading up to your colonoscopy, avoid them until you’ve been given the all clear.
If you have specific questions about diets and prep instructions, be sure to call your doctor’s office.
