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Low Residue Diet
| Low Residue Diet
- Why Low Residue Diet? |
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A low residue diet is recommended when patients need
to avoid foods which may obstruct narrowed intestinal
areas or irritate an inflamed colon.
For example:
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During a flare-up in inflammatory
bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative
colitis) where the bowel walls are inflamed.
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To reduce friction when there
is an obstruction or stricture in the intestines
due to cancer.
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As part of the washout procedure
for a colonoscopy or other pre-operative preparations.
The duration for a low residue diet depends on the
reason for the diet. Hence it can last from a few
days prior to surgery/scope to a few weeks during
a flare-up of inflammatory bowel disease. For patients
with Crohn’s disease, it is advisable to be
on a diet with moderate residue/fibre intake on a
long-term basis to ensure adequate fibre intake for
bowel movement.
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| What Is A Low
Residue Diet? |
This is achieved by limiting the amount of fibre in
the diet. Foods that have a high fibre content are wholegrain
cereals, wholemeal bread/ biscuits, nuts, seeds, dried
fruits, and skin/stalks of fruits and vegetables. Milk
should be consumed in moderation.
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| Preparation Of
Fruits and Vegetables |
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It is important to maintain a balanced diet even on
a low residue diet especially if it is to last a few
weeks. Fibre from fruits and vegetables can be reduced
by skinning/peeling skins from fruits and vegetables
and sieving vegetables after cooking. Alternatively,
drink blended fruit and vegetable juices that have been
sieved.
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| Nutritional Oral
Supplements |
Consider meal supplements in the form of milk or fruit
beverage if eating is difficult. Most of these products
are low residue and comes in a variety of flavours.
An elemental oral supplement such as Vivonex Plus or
Alitraq may help improve absorption during acute flare-up
of Crohn’s disease.
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| Useful Tips |
- Eat small meals-
take small portions and chew well.
- Eating frequently
at regular intervals, i.e. every 3-4 hours.
- Eating in a relaxed
atmosphere and relaxing after meals may help.
- Avoid foods with extreme
temperatures that is, food that is too hot or too
cold.
- Adding only one new
food at a time. This will help you to rule out foods
that irritate your bowel. Take your time and experiment
gradually.
- Drink BETWEEN, not
WITH meals. Avoid caffeine or alcohol as these may
irritate the lining of the intestinal walls.
- Avoid foods that are
too spicy.
| Category |
Foods Allowed |
Foods To Avoid |
| Bread & Cereals |
- White bread
- Plain muffins
- Refined breakfast cereals eg: cornflakes,
rice bubbles, cocoa puffs
- Plain crackers, sweet biscuits
- White rice, pasta
- Custard powder, cornflour, white flour
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- Wholegrain/wholemeal bread
- Wholegrain/fruit muffins
- Wholegrain cereals eg: weetbix, muesli, all
bran, oats, bran (processed/unprocessed), wheatgerm
- Wholegrain biscuits
- Brown rice, wholemeal pasta
- Wholemeal flour, pearl barley
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| Fruit (2-3 serves daily only) |
- Tinned or ripe fresh fruit without skin or
seeds: apple, banana, grapes, grapfruit, honeydew,
peach, pineapple, rockmelon, watermelon
- Fruit juice with no pulp
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- All skins/stalks and seeds/stones
- Apricots, berry fruits eg: strawberries, raspberries,
cherries, figs, kiwifruit, lemon, mandarin,
mango , orange, papaya, passionfruit, plum,
prunes
- All dried fruits eg: raisins, sultanas, dried
apricot
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| Vegetables |
- Flesh only (ie. no peel, skin, seeds, stalks)
- Cooked vegetables: asparagua (tips only),
cauliflower (flower, tip only), lettuce, onion
(included in recipe), potato, pumpkin, tomato
puree/paste or fresh /tinned (no seeds/skin)
- Tomato juice
- Liquidised & strained vegetable juices
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- All stalks, skins & stones
- Raw/salad vegetables
- Broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, carrots, celery,
cucumber, mushroom, peas, spinach, sweetcom,
whole tomatoes, turnip
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| Milk & milk products (1-2 cups daily) |
- Milk - full cream/low fat/skim
- Milkshakes, flavoured milk, evaporated milk,
yogurt (plain/fruit)
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- Yogurt containing fruits/nuts
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| Meat / Fish / Chicken / Cheese / Egg |
- Lean beef, veal, lamb, mutton, pork, bacon,
ham, chicken, turkey
- Fish-cooked/thinned (tuna/salmon)
- Egg, tofu
- Cheese, plain cottage cheese, cream/ricotta
cheese
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- Cottage cheese with fruit/vegetables
- Meat/chicken pies, pizza, quiche & cheese
flan
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| Desserts |
- Custard, ice cream, agar agar, clear jelly
& soya bean milk
- Milk puddings, plain cakes/scones
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- Ice-cream containing fruits/nuts
- Cakes, pudding, pies containing wholemeal
flour/dried fruits/nuts/coconuts and fruits
which are not allowed
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| Soups |
- Clear soup
- Watermelon
- Fruit juices with no pulp
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- High protein/tinned or packet soups
- Vegetable soups
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| Beverages |
- Milo
- Apple juice/tomato juice
- Soft drinks, mineral water, weak tea/coffee
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| Miscellaneous |
- Sugar, honey, golden syrup
- Boiled sweets, toffee, caramel, marshmallow,
plain chocolates (in moderation)
- Pepper, salt
- Gravy, tomato sauce, soy sauce
- Pretzels (in moderation)
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- Jams with skin, peel, pips (eg: raspberry,
marmalade)
- Chocolate with dried fruits/nuts/coconut
- Herbs
- Excess pepper, curry, chilli powder, mustard
- Popcorn, corn chips, potato chips, Twisties
- Seeds (eg: pumpkins, sunflower, sesame)
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