If your doctor has started talking to you about a low residue diet then you might be preparing for surgery or have some sort of stomach inflammation. So how can this kind of diet help? Well, to summarize this kind of low fiber diet was made to reduce pressure on the body and reduce the frequency of bowel movements.

Please note that whilst you probably would lose weight from this low residue diet it is not really meant as a weight loss diet. This diet is aimed at people with stomach issues. In a regular diet there are a number of indigestible foods we consume that amount to a lot of extra waste, what this diet does is remove a lot of these foods so your body doesn’t have to go through as much effort to process them.

Some Doctors will have their own spin on what is and isn’t acceptable for you to eat so make sure you check with them before consuming any foods. In general here is a list of what you should stay away from.

Foods you shouldn’t eat whilst on a low residue diet

• Raw veggies (lettuce is an exception)
• Yogurts with skin or seeds of fruit, most cheeses are also a no go
• Popcorn
• Peanut Butter
• Seeds and Nuts
• Spicy food
• Any fatty meat
• Oatmeal, millet, flax and buckwheat
• Peas, dried beans and other legumes.
• Whole grain pasta and bread or any products containing whole grains
• Coco Powder and chocolate
• Corn bread and muffins

Foods that are ok to eat whilst on a low residue diet

• White rice and pasta, some cereals and white bread.
• Clear juices that are strained and pulp free
• Well ground up meats, eggs, chicken or fish
• Fresh fruits (in moderation) that contain no seeds or peels.
• Mayonnaise, vegetable oils, butter and margarine as well as some dressings and (plain) gravies
• Strained soups and broth from the above foods.

The low residue diet is for people that may have the following conditions:

Suffering from Bowel inflammation – After some surgeries people can have pain and inflammation in their stomachs. A low fiber diet allows the body to not work as hard and in turn allows the body to rest and reduce the inflammation.

People undergoing radiotherapy – Some people that have radiotherapy treatments in their stomach or pelvis area can develop diarrhea. A low fiber diet helps re-hydrate sufferers whilst stopping malnutrition and helping with the diarrhea.

Astronauts – That’s right, even spacemen use this diet! Because of the many pressures in space and the use of special toilets in space a low fiber diet is used by astronauts!

Other people that would use this sort of diet include pregnant women, abdominal surgery patients, Crohn’s disease patients and also people suffering from ulcerative colitis.