One of the common dietary recommendations for people with IBD is a low residue diet low in fiber that is prescribed out of fear of irritating the bowel. However, there is no data that supports this diet being the ideal diet for people with IBD.
What is a low residue diet?
Low residue diet is a special diet, which is low in fiber and high in other dietary elements. The low residue diet is used as a preparation for certain medical examinations as well as an aid to cure certain health problems. The low residual diet is thus prescribed under certain special conditions only. The low residue diet contains less than 10-15 grams of fiber per day.
What does the low residue diet aim at?
Basically, by lowering the dietary fiber contents, the low residue diet is designed to reduce the frequency and volume of the stools. The low residue diet helps to prolong the intestinal transit time. Simply put, the low residue diet aims to reduce the bowel activity.
When do people need to go on a low residue diet?
As mentioned earlier, a low residue diet is required while a person is suffering from certain diseases or in case a person is planning to undergo specific medical examinations and procedures that require reduced bowel activity. A low residue diet is used during the first or second stages of labor. It is also used in case of bowel inflammation,
Crohn’s disease,
diverticulitis or
ulcerative colitis. The medical examinations and procedures that call for a low residue diet are radiation therapy for pelvis and lower bowel, chemotherapy, and
colonoscopy. In addition to this, people who are participating in a space flight program are also advised to maintain a low residue diet.
What are the foods that are included in a low residue diet?
All the foods that are allowed in a low residue diet have to be essentially low in fiber. The foodstuffs can include white bread, refined pasta, cereals, white rice, well-cooked meat, poultry or fish. Vegetables are high in fiber, hence you cannot include them directly, in such cases broths or strained soups are an option. In addition to that canned vegetable purees that do not include the skins and seeds of the vegetables can be used. Similarly for fruits, fresh juices, which are devoid of any pulp, can be used in this diet. Also some canned fruits with no skins can be included, as can fruit which is peeled, cooked and pureed. Ripe bananas are the only fruit which can be eaten raw. A low residue diet allows milk, and other products like yogurt and cheese in moderation. A low residue diet also allows you to consume margarine, butter and various oils.
What are the things to be avoided in a low residue diet?
Any food items that are rich in dietary fibre are essentially avoided in a low residue diet. Common items with high dietary fiber include whole grain breads and pastas, bran, seeds, or nuts. Yogurt containing fruits, whole fruits, and raw vegetables are a complete no-no on a low residue diet. Hard meat, which has not been cooked adequately, should be avoided. Various cereals, beans, legumes or even oatmeal is not allowed on a low residue diet. Food containing chocolate, caffeine, spices, are not allowed in a low residue diet as well.
