If you are having a colonoscopy done, you will be asked to go on a liquid diet about 24 hours prior to the test. The reason is the colon must be clear of all food debris in order to get an accurate reading. A complete fast in which you do not eat anything at all can drain your energy along with your body fluids, salts and minerals. Because of this, your doctor will require you to eat a very specific diet in preparation for a colonoscopy procedure.
What You Can Have
Depending on your doctor's recommendation, you will either be on a clear liquid diet or a full liquid diet.
On a clear liquid diet you will be required to consume only clear liquids including water, tea, coffee, broth or bouillon, juice without pulp, clear sodas like Sprite, 7-Up and ginger ale as well as Popsicles.
If your doctor prescribes a full liquid diet, you will be able to have everything on the clear liquid diet as well as milk, yogurt, ice cream, pudding and creamy soups. Sometimes you will also be able to have liquid nutritional supplements like Boost or Ensure as long as they don't have any fiber in them.
What You Cannot Have
You are not allowed to have any solid foods the day before your colonoscopy because they will interfere with an accurate test reading. You should not have any foods with red dye in them since they can sometimes look like blood when you pass them, especially since your stool will likely be extremely liquid. If you are allowed to have Jell-O or Popsicles, eat yellow or green ones and avoid red or purple.
Other Prep
Besides a liquid diet, your doctor may tell you not to have any food or drink after midnight the night before your procedure. Your doctor will have you drink some sort of liquid laxative like Golytely or Fleets Phospho-Soda in order to prepare your bowels for the test the following day. Be prepared to stay near a toilet as you will have a very liquid stool and have to go quite often.
Be sure to tell your physician about any medicines you are taking and whether you should still have them before the colonoscopy.
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