The most important action that you can take as you get ready for your colonoscopy is to follow your doctor’s recommendations exactly. One of the greatest causes for error in a colonoscopy is inadequate bowel preparation. If your bowel is not thoroughly cleansed, your gastroenterologist may miss polyps or lesions. This leads to repeated procedures and higher out-of-pocket costs.
No one likes the idea of being on a clear, liquid diet. Clear liquids are far from interesting and they don’t satisfy hunger. They should be reserved for those recovering from the flu, not someone in good health who is about to have a colon screening!
Unfortunately, a bowel preparation really does require a clear, liquid diet. Yet, do not just conclude that clear liquids just mean water. You have some choices in the type of clear liquids that you can choose. Clear liquids are defined as liquids that you can see through. When a clear liquid is in a container, the container can be seen through the liquid (Source:GBM).
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Maybe clear liquids are not what you may be craving, but you have more variety than you probably think. Here are some ideas to add to your list of clear liquids as you prepare for the big day:<
NOTE: It is important that you do not have any red, orange, blue or purple dye in any of your liquids. This can interfere with the colonoscopy and dye your intestines.
- Clear, carbonated drinks like ginger ale, 7-Up or Sprite
- Black coffee and hot tea (no cream)
- Jell-O or gelatin without fruit
- Fruit juices
- Powder drink mixes added to water
- Hard candy that is transparent
- Fat-free broth (vegetable, chicken or beef) or consommé
- Popsicles (make sure they are dairy free)
- Italian ice
Here are a few tips:
- Learn to like lemon-lime. Yellow and green are “yes” colors when it comes to a colonoscopy, so choose lemon-lime Jell-O, Gatorade and hard candy.
- Drink lots of soda. Carbonation makes you feel full. Try some soda that you rarely drink, like root beer. It will make you feel like a kid again.
- Try eating cold Jell-O, then hot broth. Supposedly, this fills you up. The warm liquid expands the gelatin in your stomach and presto! Your tummy is not growling anymore!
- Try to find interesting popsicle flavors like banana, green apple, or pineapple. The most popular flavors of popsicles are grape, cherry and orange—all no-no colors!
FAQs
Gatorade, Kool-Aid, Crystal-lite, Vitamin Water (clear, not red or purple) • Soda and iced tea, regular or diet (clear, not red or purple) • Jell-O gelatin without added fruit or toppings (clear, not red or purple) • Popsicles, ices or sorbet (lemon, peach, or mango; not red or purple) • Honey, sugar, and clear hard ...
What kind of Jell-O is ok for colonoscopy? ›
Gatorade, Kool-Aid, Crystal-lite, Vitamin Water (clear, not red or purple) • Soda and iced tea, regular or diet (clear, not red or purple) • Jell-O gelatin without added fruit or toppings (clear, not red or purple) • Popsicles, ices or sorbet (lemon, peach, or mango; not red or purple) • Honey, sugar, and clear hard ...
Is cola considered a clear liquid? ›
CLEAR LIQUIDS INCLUDE: water, chicken/beef/vegetable broth, flavored waters, apple juice, Jell-O, Kool-Aid, coffee, tea, Sprite, Gatorade, PowerAde, Mountain Dew, co*ke/Pepsi, Rootbeer, and Slurpee's. DO NOT DRINK milk or use any dairy or non-dairy creamer in your coffee or tea.
What is the best liquid diet for colonoscopy? ›
Diet details
- Water, plain, carbonated or flavored.
- Fruit juices without pulp, such as apple or white grape juice.
- Fruit-flavored beverages, such as fruit punch or lemonade.
- Carbonated drinks, including dark sodas, such as cola and root beer.
- Gelatin without fruit.
- Tea or coffee without milk, cream or nondairy creamer.
Coffee or tea (DO NOT use any dairy or non-dairy creamer) Gelatin desserts without added fruit or topping (NO RED, PURPLE, OR PINK) Clear hard candies (example: Jolly Ranchers) Popsicles (No sherbet or fruit bars with pulp)
How do you satisfy your hunger on a clear liquid diet? ›
Try bone broth or an Ensure Clear nutrition drink. Decaffeinated drinks also have been proven to decrease hunger pangs. Need to chew? Try munching on ice, gummy bears or gelatin.
Is Gatorade glacier cherry considered a clear liquid? ›
White or transparent variations of sports drinks — like Gatorade Glacier Cherry — generally don't contain vibrant dyes that could impact your colonoscopy results. Additionally, sports drinks that are clear and light in color, like lemon-lime flavor, are less likely to interfere with the colonoscopy process.
Is applesauce a clear liquid? ›
No, applesauce is not clear or liquid. It is considered a soft food, according to Arnaout.
What kind of Gatorade can I drink for a colonoscopy? ›
One 64-ounce bottle AND one 32-ounce bottle of Gatorade, Propel, Vitamin Water, Crystal Light, or other noncarbonated liquid drink. Colors you can use include clear, yellow, orange, or green. You cannot drink anything that is colored red, blue or purple.
Is jello a clear liquid diet? ›
A clear liquid diet consists of clear liquids such as water, broth, and plain Jell-O's. A clear liquid diet slows down the digestive system and leaves no undigested food in the body. This diet is also used in preparation for medical tests. A clear liquid diet includes liquids that do not have fat and fiber.
A: You probably will stop moving your bowels within a couple of hours of finishing the preparation. However, people are different and some will continue to pass liquid bowel movements right up to the time of the procedure.
How do you not starve the day before a colonoscopy? ›
Low residue breakfast foods include eggs, white bread, cottage cheese, yogurt, grits, coffee, and tea. You may have clear liquids. Do not drink milk or eat or drink anything colored red or purple. Do not drink alcohol.
What soup broth is best for colonoscopy? ›
Clear broth or bone broth is also helpful in keeping nutrients in the body without solid food intake. These can be prepared with chicken broth powder, bouillon, or bought premade. Any broth is acceptable as long as it contains no noodles or solids.
Can I wear socks during a colonoscopy? ›
Hints and Tips to Make your Colonoscopy Easier
Wear loose, comfortable clothing that is easy to get into and out of to the procedure. You may want to wear or bring socks. Use Baby wipes during the preparation - pat, don't wipe.
Can you wear deodorant to a colonoscopy? ›
☑ Please do not wear heavy perfumes or creams. It is ok to use deodorant. Please read through this entire instruction packet. Colonoscopy is a visual examination of the lining of your colon (large intestine).
Can I eat gummy bears on a clear liquid diet? ›
Gummy bears dissolve to a clear liquid at body temperature, so they are okay to take with your prep the day before the procedure if you want something “solid” to eat. AVOID red or purple gummy bears. DO NOT eat gummy bears on the day of the procedure. Drink as much clear liquid as possible during the prep.
What is classed as clear soup for colonoscopy? ›
CLEAR LIQUID DIET FOR COLONOSCOPY PREP
| Food Group | Foods Allowed |
|---|
| Soups (no noodles, rice, veggies, meat) | Clear broth, consommé |
| Desserts | Clear flavored gelatin, popsicles, Italian ices (no bright reds or dark purple flavors) |
| Treats | NONE |
| Miscellaneous | Sugar, honey, syrup, clear hard candy, salt |
5 more rowsYou can't eat any solid food, but you can consume an unlimited amount of clear liquids which may include:
- Water.
- Black coffee or tea.
- Bouillon/broths.
- Clear sodas (e.g., sprite or ginger ale)
- Clear juice (e.g., apple or white grape),
- Pulp-free lemonade.
Even though they don't restrict how MUCH you eat, but rather WHAT you eat, two days before, I would still feed lightly. The more you eat the day before prep, the more you work your colon has to do the empty itself. I usually opt for mashed potatoes, ramen noodles, cottage cheese, and ice cream.
Is there such a thing as clear jello? ›
Some are a little yellow in tint while some are super clear. I prefer to use Super Clear Gelatin I bought on Amazon. It is crystal clear. You can find the link here.
